Exhibit 32.1

                    CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER


          I, Robert J. Nugent,  Chief Executive  Officer of JACK IN THE BOX INC.
     (the "Registrant"), do hereby certify in accordance with 18 U.S.C. 1350, as
     adopted  pursuant to Section 906 of the  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act of 2002, that,
     based on my knowledge:

          (1)  the  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q of the  Registrant,  to which
               this  certification  is  attached as an exhibit  (the  "Report"),
               fully  complies  with the  requirements  of Section  13(a) of the
               Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m); and

          (2)  the information  contained in the Report fairly presents,  in all
               material  respects,   the  financial  condition  and  results  of
               operations of the Registrant.



     Dated:  May 20, 2004                           /S/ROBERT J. NUGENT
                                                    ------------------------
                                                    Robert J. Nugent
                                                    Chief Executive Officer



     A signed  original of this  written  statement  required by Section 906, or
     other document  authenticating,  acknowledging,  or otherwise  adopting the
     signature that appears in typed form within the electronic  version of this
     written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to Jack in the
     Box Inc. and will be retained by Jack in the Box Inc. and  furnished to the
     Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.