Benihana Inc. (BNHN) Chief Executive Officer to Ring the NASDAQ Stock Market Closing Bell

ADVISORY, Jan. 8, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) --

 What:
 Joel A. Schwartz, Chief Executive Officer of Benihana Inc. (BNHN), will
 preside over the closing bell.

 Where:
 NASDAQ MarketSite - 4 Times Square - 43rd & Broadway - Broadcast Studio

 When:
 Wednesday, January 9, 2008 at 4:00 p.m. ET

 Contacts:
 Jeannie Means
 Senior Director of Marketing
 Benihana Inc.
 jmeans@benihana.com

 NASDAQ MarketSite:
 Jolene Libretto; 646.441.5220; Jolene.Libretto@nasdaq.com

Feed Information:

The closing bell is available from 3:50 p.m. to 4:05 p.m. on uplink IA-6 C-band/transponder 17. The downlink frequency is 4040 Vertical; Audio 6.2-6.8. The feed can also be found on Waterfront fiber 1623. If you have any questions, please contact Jolene Libretto at (646) 441-5220.

Radio Feed:

An audio transmission of the closing bell is also available from 3:50 p.m. to 4:05 p.m. on uplink IA6 C band / transponder 24, downlink frequency 4180 horizontal. The feed can be found on Waterfront fiber 1623 as well.

Webcast:

A live webcast of the NASDAQ Closing Bell will be available at: http://www.nasdaq.com/reference/marketsite_about.stm

Photos:

To obtain a hi-resolution photograph of the Market Close, please go to http://www.nasdaq.com/reference/marketsite_events.stm and click on the market close of your choice.

About Benihana Inc. (BNHN):

Benihana Inc. operates 85 restaurants nationwide, including 60 Benihana teppanyaki restaurants, nine Haru sushi restaurants, and sixteen RA Sushi Bar restaurants. Under development at present are seventeen restaurants -- eight Benihana teppanyaki restaurants and nine 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.