-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HYZmsnQo/cQ+ZLKhPX9ul/vqBmmHedObAvlaf4BWZuV+L5VqTRM9hkBrSgKD+Rvw
 K7WzkTFRE9Ndbarvx4kf1g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000932214-04-000036.txt : 20040623
<SEC-HEADER>0000932214-04-000036.hdr.sgml : 20040623
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040623161548
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000932214-04-000036
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040615
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040623

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Watts Randy
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001294741

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-03189
		FILM NUMBER:		04877511

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		516-822-4820

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1400 OLD COUNTRY ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 400
		CITY:			WESTBURY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11590

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NATHANS FAMOUS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000069733
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-EATING PLACES [5812]
		IRS NUMBER:				113166443
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0329

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1400 OLD COUNTRY RD
		CITY:			WESTBURY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11590
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5163388500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1400 OLD COUNTRY RD
		STREET 2:		STE 400
		CITY:			WESTBURY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11590
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-06-15</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000069733</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NATHANS FAMOUS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NATH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001294741</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Watts Randy</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O:  NATHAN'S FAMOUS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1400 OLD COUNTRY ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WESTBURY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11590</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP of Franchise Operations</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>2002 Stock Incentive Plan (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.62</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-06-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-06-14</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Comon Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>1992 Stock Option Plan (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.20</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-10-31</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-10-30</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>1992 Stock Option Plan (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.9375</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1999-04-06</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-04-05</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options vest 33 1/3% on 6/15/05, 6/15/06 and 6/15/07.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Options vest 25% on 10/31/02, 10/31/03, 10/31/04 and 10/31/05.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Options vested 50% on each of 4/6/99 and 4/6/00.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Randy Watts</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-06-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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