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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 T4m05r/Hwmmct6O2hM9eAsUfdyNHHiSx1TW50EUGxZI6tlgmjIPs/MU+5iUs47F4
 DfWjSioz0Mu9f/rWfMPaxQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001265915-04-000001.txt : 20040917
<SEC-HEADER>0001265915-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040917
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040917114629
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001265915-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040915
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040917
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20040917

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BENIHANA OF TOKYO INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001265915

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26396
		FILM NUMBER:		041035201

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		BENIHANA INC
		STREET 2:		8685 NW 53 TERRACE STE 201
		CITY:			MIAMI
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33166
		BUSINESS PHONE:		305 593 0770

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BENIHANA PROTECTIVE TRUST UA 6 8 98
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001265987

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26396
		FILM NUMBER:		041035200

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8685 NW 53 TERRACE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 201
		CITY:			MIAMI
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33166
		BUSINESS PHONE:		305 593 0770

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BENIHANA INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000935226
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-EATING PLACES [5812]
		IRS NUMBER:				650538630
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0328

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8685 NW 53RD TERRACE
		CITY:			MIAMI
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33166
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3055930770

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8685 NW 53RD TERRACE
		CITY:			MIAMI
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33166
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-09-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000935226</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BENIHANA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BNHNA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001265915</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BENIHANA OF TOKYO INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001265987</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BENIHANA PROTECTIVE TRUST UA 6 8 98</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock, $.10 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-09-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10600</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>12.6</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>106154</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-09-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>200</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>12.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>105954</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Benihana Protective Trust U/A June 8, 1998 owns all the issued and outstanding shares of Benihana of Tokyo, Inc., and therefore is an indirect beneficial owner of the shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kana Aoki Nootenboom, its Vice President</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-09-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kana Aoki Nootenboom, as Trustee</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-09-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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