8-K

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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                         Date of Report: March 16, 1998


                              CKE RESTAURANTS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


        Delaware                       1-13192                 33--0602639
- ----------------------------         ------------         ----------------------
(State or other jurisdiction         (Commission              (IRS Employer
     of incorporation)               File Number)         Identification Number)


             1200 North Harbor Boulevard, Anaheim, California 92801
                    (Address of principal executive offices)


                                 (714) 774-5796
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


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Item 5.  Other Events

         On March 16, 1998, CKE Restaurants, Inc. ("the Registrant") closed a
private placement of six-year convertible subordinated notes due 2004. The size
of the offering increased to $197.2 million due to the exercise of an
over-allotment option. The convertible subordinated notes are not registered or
required to be registered under the Securities Act of 1993, as amended.

Attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K is the text of the
release on the close of a private placement of notes by the Registrant on March
16, 1998.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

        (c)    Exhibits

               99.1   Press Release - March 16, 1998 - CKE Restaurants Completes
                      Private Placement of $197.2 million of Convertible
                      Subordinated Notes


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                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



                                            CKE RESTAURANTS, INC.


Dated: March 19, 1998                       /s/ CARL A. STRUNK
                                            --------------------------------
                                            Carl A. Strunk
                                            Executive Vice President
                                            Chief Financial Officer



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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit
Number         Description
- -------        -----------

 99.1          Press Release - March 16, 1998 - CKE Restaurants Completes
               Private Placement of $197.2 million of Convertible Subordinated
               Notes.

EX-99.1

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                                                                  NEWS RELEASE


CONTACTS:  Carl Strunk
           Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
           805.563.1566

           Loren Pannier
           Senior Vice President, Investor Relations
           714.778.7109


              CKE RESTAURANTS, INC. COMPLETES PRIVATE PLACEMENT OF
                $197.2 MILLION OF CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED NOTES


         ANAHEIM, Calif. - March 16, 1998 - CKE Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:CKR)
today announced that on March 13, 1998 it closed a $197.2 million private
placement of six-year convertible subordinated notes due 2004, with a 4.25
percent coupon. The notes are convertible into the Company's common stock at an
initial conversion price of $48.204. The size of the offering increased from the
previously announced $171.5 million due to the exercise in full of an
over-allotment option granted to the initial purchasers of the notes. CKE
received net cash proceeds of approximately $192.3 million.

         The notes are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, or
applicable state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold absent
registration under the Securities Act and applicable securities laws or an
available exemption from registration requirements.

         CKE Restaurants, Inc., through its subsidiaries and franchisees,
operates 714 Carl's Jr. quick-service restaurants, including 120 Carl's
Jr./Green Burrito dual-brand locations, primarily located in California, Nevada,
Oregon, Arizona, Mexico and the Pacific Rim; 3,039 Hardee's quick-service
restaurants in 39 states and 10 foreign countries including 85 Carl's
Jr./Hardee's dual-brand locations; 109 Taco Bueno quick-service restaurants in
Texas and Oklahoma; 26 Rally's quick-service restaurants in California and
Arizona; 82 JB's Restaurants and six Galaxy Diners.

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