<ARTICLE>                           5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the balance
sheet and income statment for the 13 weeks of Ark Restaurants Corp. and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1000
       
                                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                 3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                       OCT-02-1999
<PERIOD-END>                            JAN-02-1999
<CASH>                                          111
<SECURITIES>                                      0
<RECEIVABLES>                                 3,314
<ALLOWANCES>                                      0
<INVENTORY>                                   1,942
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                              8,106
<PP&E>                                       41,631
<DEPRECIATION>                               16,605
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               43,046
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                         8,536
<BONDS>                                       4,319
<COMMON>                                         52
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                             0
<PREFERRED>                                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                   29,488
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 43,046
<SALES>                                      26,933
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             26,933
<CGS>                                         7,110
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                 7,110
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             18,220
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                  0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               64
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               1,710
<INCOME-TAX>                                    684
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           1,026
<DISCONTINUED>                                    0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                   0
<CHANGES>                                         0
<NET-INCOME>                                  1,026
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   .28
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   .28