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                                                                   Exhibit 24(a)
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                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                -----------------


         Morgan's Foods, Inc., an Ohio corporation (the "Company"), which
proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, under the
provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, a registration statement on Form S-8
or other form registering under the Securities Act of 1933 (and Rule 415 of such
Act, if appropriate) the Company's Common Shares in connection with the exercise
of options under the Company's Nonqualified Stock Option Plan for Executives and
Managers and its Key Employees Nonqualified Stock Option Plan, hereby
constitutes and appoints Kenneth L. Hignett and William Appleton, and each of
them, as the attorney of the Company, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for and in the name, place and stead of the Company, to sign and
file the proposed registration statement and any and all amendments and exhibits
thereto, and any and all applications and other documents to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission pertaining to such interests and securities
or such registration, with full power and authority to do and perform any and
all acts and things whatsoever requisite to be done in the premises, hereby
ratifying and approving the acts of such attorney or any such substitute.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Morgan's Foods, Inc. has caused this power of
attorney to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned in Cleveland, Ohio, on
October 29, 1999.

                              MORGAN'S FOODS, INC.



                              By: /s/ Leonard R. Stein-Sapir
                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                      Leonard R. Stein-Sapir, President
                                      and Chief Executive Officer