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Benihana Inc. Updates Development Activity

Benihana Inc. Updates Development Activity

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 6, 2007--Benihana Inc. (NASDAQ: BNHNA; BNHN), operator of the nation's largest chain of Japanese theme and sushi restaurants, today updated development activity for its Benihana teppanyaki, RA Sushi, and Haru restaurant concepts.

Benihana Teppanyaki

* The Company opened a free standing Benihana teppanyaki restaurant in Chandler, AZ on September 19, 2007. The restaurant is located in The Boulevard Shops, a cluster of high-end retail stores alongside the Chandler Fashion Center Mall.
* The Company signed a definitive lease agreement for a new Benihana teppanyaki restaurant in Westwood, MA, a suburb of Boston. The restaurant will be located in Westwood Station, a mixed-use development project that will combine residential, retail and office space in an affluent, town center setting.
* The Company signed a definitive lease agreement for a new free standing Benihana teppanyaki restaurant in Orlando, FL. The restaurant will be located on International Drive near all the major theme parks and attractions, and will replace an existing in line location in Lake Buena Vista, FL.
* A remodeled Benihana teppanyaki restaurant reopened in Tucson, AZ on October 22, 2007. The location had previously closed on September 7, 2007.
* A remodeled Benihana teppanyaki restaurant reopened in Cherry Hill, NJ on October 25, 2007. The location had previously closed on June 24, 2007.
* The Company closed its Benihana teppanyaki restaurant in San Diego, CA on September 17, 2007 for remodeling.
* The Benihana teppanyaki restaurant in Dallas, TX continues to operate in a limited capacity during its current renovation phase. The restaurant will be required to close for a six week period, during the fiscal fourth quarter of 2008.
* As previously communicated, the Company will be closing the Benihana teppanyaki restaurant in Turtle Creek, TX, a suburb of Dallas, in January 2008.
* There are currently six additional Benihana teppanyaki restaurants under development in Coral Springs, FL; Chicago, IL; East Rutherford, NJ; Plymouth Meeting, PA; Plano, TX; Dulles, VA. All of these units will be utilizing the new prototype design.

RA Sushi

* The RA Sushi restaurant in Tustin, CA opened on November 5, 2007. The restaurant is located in The District at Tustin Legacy, a lifestyle and entertainment center on the corner of Jamboree and Barranca Parkway.
* The Company signed a definitive lease agreement for a new RA Sushi in Westwood, MA, a suburb of Boston. The restaurant will be located in Westwood Station, a mixed-use development project that will combine residential, retail and office space in an affluent, town center setting.
* The Company signed a definitive lease agreement for a new RA Sushi restaurant in Orlando, FL. The restaurant will be located at The Square, a 20-acre site mixed-use upscale center on International Drive, which will attract over 50 million conventioneers, tourists and locals.
* The Company signed a definitive lease agreement for a new RA Sushi restaurant in Leawood, KS, a suburb of Kansas City. The restaurant will be located in Park Place, a mixed-use pedestrian-friendly development within one of Kansas City's most desirable suburbs.
* There are currently seven additional RA Sushi restaurants under development in Mesa, AZ; Huntington Beach, CA; Pembroke Pines, FL; South Miami, FL; Baltimore, MD; Houston, TX; and Plano, TX.

Haru

* The Company opened a Haru restaurant in Boston, MA on October 29, 2007 in the Prudential Center. The Prudential Center is located in the Back Bay Retail District in downtown Boston and consists of several office towers and residential buildings, a hotel, a convention center, department stores and numerous shops and restaurants.
* There is currently one additional Haru restaurant under development in the Wall Street Financial District in New York City, which is expected to open in the fiscal third quarter of 2008.

"Both our development activity and remodeling efforts reflect our intention to remain the leader in Japanese theme and sushi dining for many years to come. We currently have more restaurants in development than at any other time in our history, and are particularly pleased to be extending our footprint to new markets such as Massachusetts with all three of our brands, as well as Central Florida and Kansas City with RA Sushi In addition, we have now also completed fourteen Benihana teppanyaki renovations, and are well underway to transforming our flagship brand for the next generation of teppanyaki guests," said Joel A. Schwartz, Chairman and CEO.

About Benihana

Benihana Inc. (NASDAQ: BNHNA; BNHN) operates 83 restaurants nationwide, including 60 Benihana teppanyaki restaurants, eight Haru sushi restaurants, and fifteen RA Sushi Bar restaurants. Under development at present are nineteen restaurants - eight Benihana teppanyaki restaurants, one Haru restaurant, and ten RA Sushi restaurants. In addition, 19 franchised Benihana teppanyaki restaurants are operating in the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean.

To learn more about the Company and its three Japanese theme and sushi restaurant concepts, please view the corporate video at www.benihana.com/company_profile.asp

CONTACT: ICR
Raphael Gross or Tom Ryan, 203-682-8200

SOURCE: Benihana Inc.

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