<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from CKE
Restaurants, Inc. Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statements of
Income as of and for the twelve weeks ended August 10, 1998, and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such Form 10-Q for the quarterly
period ended August 10, 1996.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-25-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-27-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               AUG-10-1998
<CASH>                                          38,050
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   32,932
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                     23,617
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               112,758
<PP&E>                                       1,434,250
<DEPRECIATION>                                 475,313
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,456,170
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          265,088
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           471
<OTHER-SE>                                     548,228
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,456,170
<SALES>                                        438,910
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               474,841
<CGS>                                          351,034
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  425,703
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                (1,207)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              12,605
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 37,740
<INCOME-TAX>                                    15,136
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             22,604
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    22,604
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .48
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .46