EXHIBIT 99


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                Contact: Donald J. Radkoski (614) 492-4901
Sept. 7, 2004                                     or Mary Cusick (614) 492-4920

                BOB EVANS FARMS ANNOUNCES AUGUST SAME-STORE SALES

     COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Bob Evans Farms, Inc. (Nasdaq: BOBE) today announced that
     same-store sales in "core" Bob Evans Restaurants (478 stores which were
     open for the full 12 months in both fiscal years 2003 and 2004) for the
     fiscal 2005 month of August (the four weeks ended Aug. 27) decreased 4.6
     percent from the same period a year ago. Average menu prices for the fiscal
     month were up approximately 2.4 percent.

              Mimi's Cafe same-store sales in "core" restaurants (60 stores
     which opened prior to July 1, 2002) for the equivalent fiscal 2005 month of
     August increased 2.9 percent from the same period a year ago. Average menu
     prices for the period were up approximately 4.3 percent.

         Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Stewart K. Owens
     said, "August sales at Bob Evans Restaurants were clearly below
     expectations. We believe Bob Evans' soft same-store sales primarily reflect
     the continued economic pressures and depressed consumer confidence in our
     core heartland markets, as well as possibly some affect from the Olympics.
     Although some of our restaurants in Florida and other southeastern markets
     were affected by Hurricane Charley, the overall impact on our sales was
     modest."

         Owens added, "Fortunately, Mimi's continues to perform well, and
     profitability in our food products segment is showing signs of improvement
     due to a recent decline in our hog costs. As a result, we are currently
     maintaining our previous earnings guidance for the second fiscal quarter of
     approximately $0.40 per share."

         Bob Evans Farms, Inc. owns and operates 569 full-service, family
restaurants in 21 states. Bob Evans Restaurants are primarily located in the
Midwest, mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions of the United States, while Owens
Restaurants operate in Texas. In addition, the company operates 82 Mimi's Cafe
casual restaurants located in 10 states, primarily in California and other
western states. Bob Evans Farms, Inc. is also a leading producer and distributor
of pork sausage and a variety of complementary homestyle convenience food items
under the Bob Evans and Owens brand names. For more information about Bob Evans
Farms, Inc., visit the company's Web site at www.bobevans.com.

         SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM
ACT OF 1995 The statements contained in this report which are not historical
fact are "forward-looking statements" that involve various important
assumptions, risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the
company's actual results for fiscal 2005 and beyond to differ materially from
those expressed in such forward-looking statements. These important factors
include, without limitation, changes in hog costs, the possibility of severe
weather conditions where the company operates its restaurants, the availability
and cost of acceptable new restaurant sites, shortages of restaurant labor,
acceptance of the company's restaurant concepts into new geographic areas as
well as other risks previously disclosed in the company's securities filings and
press releases.