Equally impressive were the chains total sales, whichincreased 13.5% to $73.7 million, compared with thesame period last year. The chain's largest sushiconcept, RA Sushi, saw same-store sales increase 25%,while total sales increased 43.6% to $7 million. AtHaru, the company's urban sushi concept, same-storesales grew half a percent, and total sales for thechain increased 16% to $8.2 million. Sales at Doraku,a one-restaurant concept that offers 20 varieties ofsake, popped 23.3% to $600,000 for the quarter.

And, it's not just new concepts that are drivingBenihana's sales, either. Its core concept, theteppanyaki Benihana restaurants--where chefs wieldlarge knives to slice and dice meals right at thetable–-generated a same-store sales increase of 8.5%. According to the chain, the increase can be attributed to a 2.5% to 3% price increase and increased customer traffic. Total sales of the teppanyaki restaurants for the period increased 10.2%, compared to the same period last year, to $57.8 million.

The strong sales performance compelled Benihanamanagement to indicate that its quarterly income couldexceed its 28 cents to 30 cents per share guidance.Last year, the chain brought in 20 cents a share forits first quarter.