Exhibit 5
                                                   (614) 464-6400



                         August 26, 1994



Board of Directors
Bob Evans Farms, Inc.
3776 South High Street
Columbus, Ohio  43207


Gentlemen and Ladies:

          We are familiar with the proceedings taken and proposed
to be taken by Bob Evans Farms, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), in connection with the institution of the Bob Evans
Farms, Inc. 1994 Long Term Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), the
granting of options to purchase shares of Common Stock, $.01 par
value (the "Common Shares"), of the Company pursuant to the Plan,
the granting of performance share awards under the Plan and the
issuance and sale of Common Shares upon exercise of options granted
under the Plan, as described in the Registration Statement on
Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on August 29, 1994.  The purpose
of the Registration Statement is to register 1,000,000 Common
Shares reserved for issuance under the Plan pursuant to the
provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder.

          In connection with this opinion, we have examined an
original or copy of, and have relied upon the accuracy of, without
independent verification or investigation: (a) the Registration
Statement; (b) the Plan; (c) the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation, as amended; (d) the Company's By-Laws; and (e)
certain proceedings of the directors and of the stockholders of the
Company.  We have also relied upon such representations of the
Company and officers of the Company and such authorities of law as
we have deemed relevant as a basis for this opinion.

          We have relied solely upon the examinations and inquiries
recited herein, and we have not undertaken any independent
investigation to determine the existence or absence of any facts,
and no inference as to our knowledge concerning such facts should
be drawn.

          Based upon and subject to the foregoing and the further
qualifications and limitations set forth below, as of the date
hereof, we are of the opinion that:

          1.   When options and performance share awards covering
not more than 1,000,000 Common Shares have been granted to eligible
employees of the Company and its subsidiaries in accordance with
the terms of the Plan, such options and performance share awards
will be legally constituted and binding obligations of the Company
in accordance with their terms.

          2.   After 1,000,000 Common Shares of the Company have
been issued by the Company upon the exercise of options granted
under the Plan against payment of the purchase price therefor and
upon settlement of performance share awards granted under the Plan,
in accordance with the terms of the Plan, said Common Shares will
be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, assuming
compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws.

          This opinion is furnished by us solely for the benefit
of the Company in connection with the offering of the Common Shares
pursuant to the Plan and the filing of the Registration Statement
and any amendments thereto.  This opinion may not be relied upon
by any other person or assigned, quoted or otherwise used without
our specific written consent.

          Notwithstanding the foregoing, we consent to the filing
of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to
the reference to us therein.


                              Very truly yours,



                              VORYS, SATER, SEYMOUR AND PEASE