EXHIBIT 99

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                Contact: Donald J. Radkoski (614) 492-4901
May 9, 2005                                       or Mary Cusick (614) 492-4920

                BOB EVANS FARMS ANNOUNCES FOURTH QUARTER DIVIDEND
                       AND SHARE REPURCHASE AUTHORIZATION

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Bob Evans Farms, Inc. (Nasdaq: BOBE) board of directors today
declared a quarterly dividend of twelve cents ($.12) per share on the
corporation's outstanding common stock ($.01 par value). The dividend is payable
June 1, 2005, to stockholders of record at the close of business on May 20,
2005.

The board of directors has approved the repurchase of up to 2 million shares of
Bob Evans Farms, Inc. common stock during fiscal 2006, which runs through April
2006. The shares may be purchased from time to time on the open market or
through privately negotiated transactions, depending on market conditions. There
were approximately 35.4 million shares outstanding at April 29, 2005.

         Bob Evans Farms, Inc. owns and operates 588 full-service, family
restaurants in 20 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 92 Mimi's Cafe
casual restaurants located in 13 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 statements of historical
fact are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). In addition, certain
statements in future filings by the company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, in press releases and in oral and written statements made by or with
the approval of the company which are not statements of historical fact
constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Act. Examples of
forward-looking statements include statements of plans and objectives of the
company or its management or board of directors; statements regarding future
economic performance; and statements of assumptions underlying such statements.
Words such as "plan," "believes," "anticipates," "expects" and "intends" and
similar expressions are intended to, but are not the exclusive means of,
identifying those statements.

Forward-looking statements involve various important assumptions, risks and
uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those predicted by the
forward-looking statements because of various factors and possible events,
including, without limitation:

         o        Changes in hog costs

         o        The possibility of severe weather conditions where the company
                  operates its restaurants

         o        The availability and cost of acceptable new restaurant sites

         o        Shortages of restaurant labor





         o        Acceptance of the company's restaurant concepts into new
                  geographic areas

         o        Accurately assessing the value, future growth potential,
                  strengths, weaknesses, contingent and other liabilities and
                  potential profitability of Mimi's Cafe

         o        Unanticipated changes in business and economic conditions
                  affecting Mimi's Cafe

         o        Other risks disclosed from time to time in the company's
                  securities filings and press releases

There is also the risk that the company may incorrectly analyze these risks or
that the strategies developed by the company to address them will be
unsuccessful.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and
the company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to
reflect circumstances or events after the date on which the statement is made to
reflect unanticipated events. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking
statements attributable to the company or any person acting on behalf of the
company are qualified by the cautionary statements in this section.