UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K


[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JANUARY 26, 1998

OR

[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER: 0-6054

STAR BUFFET, INC.
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

             DELAWARE                                      84-1433454
   (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION                         (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
OF INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                     IDENTIFICATION NO.)
        440 LAWNDALE DRIVE                                   84115
       SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH                                (ZIP CODE)
      (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL
        EXECUTIVE OFFICES)

REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (801) 463-5500


SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT: NONE
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT:

(TITLE OF EACH CLASS):                NAME OF EACH EXCHANGE ON WHICH REGISTERED:
----------------------                ------------------------------------------
    COMMON STOCK                      NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SECURITIES DEALERS
   $.001 PAR VALUE                                    (NASDAQ)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [ ]

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [ ].

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of March 31, 1998, was $56,276,000.

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant's common stock was 5,450,000 shares as of March 31, 1998.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the registrant's Proxy Statement for the 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after January 26, 1998, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Report.

The Exhibit Index is contained in Part IV herein on Page E-1.



STAR BUFFET, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX TO ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JANUARY 26, 1998

                                                                           PAGE
                                                                           ----
                                PART I
ITEM 1.    BUSINESS....................................................      1
ITEM 2.    PROPERTIES..................................................      9
ITEM 3.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS...........................................     10
ITEM 4.    SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.........     10

                                PART II
ITEM 5.    MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED
           STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.........................................     11
ITEM 6.    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.....................................     11
ITEM 7.    MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
           AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS...................................     12
ITEM 8.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.................     17
ITEM 9.    CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING
           AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE....................................     17

                               PART III
ITEM 10.   DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT..........     18
ITEM 11.   EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION......................................     18
ITEM 12.   SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND
           MANAGEMENT..................................................     18
ITEM 13.   CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS..............     18

                                PART IV
ITEM 14.   EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM
           8-K.........................................................     19

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PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

OVERVIEW

Star Buffet, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Star" and collectively with its subsidiaries, the "Company") is engaged primarily in the food service industry. As of January 26, 1998, the Company owns and operates 16 franchised HomeTown Buffet restaurants, seven JJ North's Grand Buffet restaurants and two Mexican- themed restaurants operated under the Casa Bonita name. Subsequent to January 26, 1998, the Company has acquired twelve franchised JB's Restaurants, three Stacey's Buffet restaurants, two Maggie's Buffet restaurants, two BuddyFreddys restaurants and one additional restaurant that is not currently operating but will be converted to one of the Company's buffet concepts. The Company's restaurants are located in ten western states and Florida and are focused on providing customers with a wide variety of fresh, high quality food at modest prices in a warm, friendly atmosphere.

The Company was formed on July 28, 1997 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of CKE Restaurants, Inc. ("CKE") an operator, franchisor and licensor of 3,981 branded restaurants in the United States and abroad. On September 30, 1997 the Company completed an initial public offering (the "Initial Public Offering") of 3,000,000 shares of its common stock at an Initial Public Offering price of $12.00 per share. Of the 3,000,000 shares of common stock sold in the Initial Public Offering, 2,400,000 shares were sold by the company and 600,000 shares were sold by CKE. On October 7, 1997, the underwriters exercised their over-allotment option and acquired an additional 450,000 shares of common stock from the Company. The Initial Public Offering generated total net proceeds to the Company of $30.8 million after commissions and offering expenses. The Company has used a portion of the proceeds to pay a dividend to CKE and to repay indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of restaurants. The remaining proceeds are being used for working capital and general corporate purposes.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This report on Form 10-K contains forward looking statements, which are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following: general economic and business conditions; the impact of competitive products and pricing; success of operating initiatives; advertising and promotional efforts; adverse publicity; changes in business strategy or development plans; quality of management; availability, terms and deployment of capital; changes in prevailing interest rates and the availability of financing; food, labor, and employee benefits costs; changes in, or the failure to comply with, government regulations; weather conditions; construction schedules; implementation of the Company's acquisition and strategic alliance strategy; the effect of the Company's accounting polices and other risks detailed in the Company's Prospectus dated September 24, 1997 and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

On October 31, 1997, the Company entered into a strategic alliance (the "Alliance") with Stacey's Buffet, Inc. ("Stacey's") whereby, among other things, the Company agreed to provide certain services for 23 Stacey's restaurants and make loans to Stacey's from time to time up to an aggregate principal amount of $4,500,000. On February 13, 1998, the Company acquired three Stacey's restaurants, and the Company and Stacey's mutually agreed to terminate the Alliance, including cancellation of any future obligations of the Company to make loans to Stacey's. The Company paid the purchase price for the three restaurants by the cancellation of Stacey's outstanding indebtedness to the Company which was incurred as part of the Alliance.

On February 24, 1998, the Company acquired twelve JB's Restaurants from JB's Restaurants, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of CKE, for $4,265,000, subject to adjustment. At the time of acquisition, the Company prepaid royalty fees for one year in the amount of $485,000. The Company will operate the

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restaurants under franchise agreements with JB's Family Restaurants, Inc. until such time as they are converted to the Company's small-format buffet concept. The Company has completed one of the conversions and expects to complete additional conversions during fiscal 1999.

In addition, during February 1998, the Company, in three separate transactions, acquired three additional restaurants in the state of Florida. The purchase price for these restaurants, one of which is a fee property, was approximately $1.8 million. Two of the restaurants are operated as Maggie's Buffet restaurants and the third restaurant, which was formerly operated as a Stacey's Buffet restaurant prior to being closed in 1996, will be converted to one of the Company's buffet concepts and re-opened during fiscal 1999.

On April 1, 1998, the Company acquired two buffet restaurants located in Florida, which operate under the brand name of BuddyFreddys. The purchase price was $1.6 million, subject to adjustment, of which, $400,000 was paid in cash at closing and the remaining $1.2 million will be paid in equal monthly installments of $100,000 each beginning April 15, 1998 and continuing through March 15, 1999. In addition, the Company has loaned the seller $2.4 million. The loan has a term of one year, is secured by the real property of the purchased restaurants and bears interest at 8.5% for the first 90 days and 10.0% for the remainder of the term. It is anticipated that the Company will convert certain of its other restaurants in the Florida market to the BuddyFreddys concept.

BUSINESS

The Company's strategic objective is to become a leading national operator of regional buffet restaurants through the acquisition of established regional concepts and the development of additional restaurants within existing or new markets. The Company believes that certain elements of its business strategy can be used successfully to improve the financial performance of its recent and future acquisitions. Key elements of the Company's business strategy as are follows:

Customer Focus. The Company believes that its ability to deliver high quality food to customers with superior service in clean and friendly environments has been central to its success at improving customer perceptions and sales at its buffet restaurants. The key elements of management's focus include:

- High Quality Food. The Company seeks to differentiate itself by providing higher quality and better tasting food than its competitors. Food items are prepared frequently and in small batches to ensure the correct temperature, texture and flavor. Management limits the number of items prepared each day and frequently rotates selected specialty items to maintain customer interest while ensuring that the Company's signature items are offered at the highest possible quality.

- Superior Service. The Company provides a level of customer service which it believes has helped it establish a higher level of customer satisfaction than its competitors. Customers are greeted by an employee who seats the customers and explains the features of the restaurant and menu offerings. In addition, the restaurants' managers seek to visit each customer's table during peak meal periods to ensure guest satisfaction. The Company's restaurants are inspected by independent "mystery shoppers" several times each month, and restaurants not performing up to Company standards receive additional inspection surveys until appropriate standards are restored.

- Clean and Friendly Environment. The Company strives to offer a pleasant, customer friendly environment at its restaurants by providing attractive, updated restaurant decors and by emphasizing cleanliness in all areas of its operations. Further, through regular maintenance, the Company seeks to enhance the customer dining experience by keeping its restaurants clean and pleasant.

Management Practices. The Company's management team has implemented a series of management practices, many of which were developed by CKE, that have improved the operations of the Company's

2

HomeTown Buffet restaurants. Management believes that many of these practices and policies can be applied to the Company's other buffet restaurants. The key elements of these management practices are:

- Restaurant Management. The Company has developed food, labor and customer service management practices and reporting mechanisms that allow management to effectively monitor restaurant-level operations, analyze restaurant performance statistics and communicate best- practices across its restaurant operations. Through the use of its restaurant-level incentive and bonus programs, as well as its traditional recognition programs, the Company seeks to motivate its employees and foster an environment where employees are encouraged to share their ideas and cost-saving suggestions with management.

- Cost Management. The Company's Service Agreement (the "CKE Service Agreement"), has enabled the Company to maintain a lean corporate management structure. The Company believes that it can continue to leverage its corporate infrastructure and Service Agreement with CKE in order to achieve additional synergies in purchasing, information systems, finance and accounting, benefits and human resource management. The Company is committed to controlling costs at all levels of its operations. Through effective management of the Company's product mix, production quantities and staffing, the Company has significantly reduced its food, labor and other operating costs.

- Brand Management. The Company promotes its restaurants and enhances its brand awareness through local promotions and advertising programs which convey a targeted, consistent message and build customer awareness and loyalty. The Company primarily utilizes local marketing representatives to promote the restaurants to local organizations and groups seeking facilities and services offered by buffet restaurants.

GROWTH STRATEGY

The Company's strategic objective is to become a leading national operator of regional buffet restaurants through (i) acquisitions of existing buffet restaurants which management believes can benefit from the Company's management practices and can be converted to buffet restaurants operated or under development by the Company and (ii) minority investments in or strategic alliances with other regional buffet restaurant chains. The Company's growth strategy is designed to capitalize on the opportunities management perceives in the fragmented buffet segment of the restaurant industry.

Acquisition Strategy. Management believes that the Company will be able to capitalize on the successful attributes of acquired buffet chains while increasing their focus on operations, customer service and quality. Management believes that a number of acquisition opportunities exist due to the fragmentation of the buffet, cafeteria and grill-buffet segments of the restaurant industry, which are comprised of a substantial number of regional chains. The Company believes that most of these regional chains are privately owned and may be available for acquisition because they lack the financial and operational structure to compete with larger regional and national chains. Following acquisition, management intends to integrate and improve the operations and profitability of the chain through the implementation of the following key strategies:

- Enhance Food Quality and Service Levels. Management believes that, due to the limited capital and management resources of many regional chains, such restaurants often offer poor food quality and an insufficient level of customer service. Management intends to increase the chains' customer focus and utilize the management practices which have proven successful at other CKE operated restaurants.

- Implement Operational Cost Controls and Management Incentive Structures. Management believes that the management practices which have successfully lowered food, labor and other operating costs at other CKE operated restaurants can be implemented in other regional buffet chains. In addition, the Company believes that its management incentive programs can increase the customer service and profitability of acquired restaurants.

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- Leverage CKE Relationship to Reduce Overhead Expenses. The Company intends to achieve operating efficiencies by eliminating certain administrative functions and redundant operations. Management believes that significant savings can result through the implementation of CKE's purchasing, financial services, information systems and accounting functions pursuant to the terms of the CKE Service Agreement.

Acquisitions, however, involve a number of special risks that could adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations, including the diversion of management's attention, the assimilation of the operations and personnel of acquired restaurants, the amortization of acquired intangible assets and the potential loss of key employees.

New Restaurant Opening Strategy. In order to increase the Company's presence in existing markets, or when acquisition opportunities are not available, the Company intends to expand through new restaurant openings. While the Company may construct new restaurant facilities, management intends to seek opportunities to convert locations currently occupied by other buffet, family dining or budget steakhouse restaurant concepts. The Company has developed its prototype design and menu for new restaurant openings which management believes will offer customers a dining environment and experience superior to existing buffet restaurants. Management believes that this design can easily be implemented at restaurants acquired by the Company.

In recent years, a number of chains in the family dining and budget steakhouse segments of the restaurant industry have experienced operational difficulties and declining performance. Management believes that these difficulties are the result of increasing competition for these concepts from the rapid growth of lower priced casual dining chains and casual steakhouses which offer superior product quality and service at only moderately higher prices. Many of these family dining restaurants and budget steakhouses occupy desirable locations and provide opportunities to acquire desirable restaurant locations at attractive prices. Management believes that these locations can be acquired at lower prices or leased at rates lower than those available from a comparable undeveloped site.

Minority Investments. Management intends to seek minority investments in other restaurant chains, like Stacey's, that the Company believes can be improved through the implementation of the Company's management practices. Management believes that minority investments can in other restaurant chains provide an attractive investment opportunity for the Company and may lower the acquisition cost of such chains should the Company ultimately seek to acquire the chains.

HOMETOWN BUFFET RESTAURANTS

General. The Company, through its subsidiary HTB Restaurants, Inc. ("HTB") has franchise agreements with HomeTown Buffet, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Buffets, Inc., (the "HomeTown Franchisor"), under which HTB, operates HomeTown Buffet restaurants in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

HTB has entered into a franchise agreement for each location which requires among other items, the payment of a continuing royalty fee. The royalty fee is based on the aggregate gross sales of all the Company's HomeTown Buffet restaurants at the following rates:

                  ANNUAL GROSS SALES                     RATE
                  ------------------                     ----
$0 to $1,000,000                                         4%
$1,000,001 to $2,000,000                                 3%
$2,000,001 and over                                      2%

Each of the franchise agreements has a 20-year term (with two five-year renewal options). HTB provides weekly sales reports to the HomeTown Franchisor as well as periodic and annual financial statements. HTB is obligated to operate its Hometown Buffet restaurants in compliance with the HomeTown Franchisor's operating and recipe manuals.

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The HomeTown Franchisor may terminate a franchise agreement for a number of reasons, including the failure to pay royalty fees when due, failure to comply with applicable laws or repeated failure to comply with one or more requirements of the franchise agreements. Many state franchise laws limit the ability of a franchisor to terminate or refuse to renew a franchise. Generally, a franchisor may terminate a franchise agreement only if a franchisee violates a material and substantial provision of the agreement and fails to remedy the violation within a specified period.

Concept and Menu. HomeTown Buffet restaurants are located both in shopping "strip centers" and as free standing restaurants. HTB's typical restaurant format is approximately 10,200 square feet with seating for approximately 375 customers. The restaurant design is based upon standardized construction plans, with modifications made for each particular site. The restaurants offer fixed price lunch, dinner and weekend breakfast menus that entitle each customer to unlimited servings of all menu items and beverages. Prices are approximately $5.75 for lunch and approximately $7.65 for dinner, and may vary depending on restaurant location. The restaurants offer reduced prices to children under age 12 and to senior citizens.

HomeTown Buffet restaurants seek to differentiate themselves from other buffet and cafeteria restaurants by the quality and variety of their food offerings. The restaurants feature a "scatter bar" buffet system with eight separate food islands in an "all-you-can-eat" format. Menus emphasize traditional American "home cooking" and include soups, salads, entrees, vegetables, non-alcoholic beverages and desserts. Customers can choose from multiple entree choices, including fried and baked chicken and fish, roast beef, turkey and ham. Additional entrees, such as lasagna, barbecued ribs and other regional or seasonal dishes, are featured on particular days of the week. In addition to entrees, each meal includes two freshly-prepared soups, assorted vegetable and potato dishes, hot bread and an extensive salad bar. Dessert selections include pudding, assorted cobblers, cakes, cookies and soft-serve frozen dairy desserts and various sundae toppings.

HTB uses high-quality ingredients, including fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables, in its menu offerings, and all menu items are prepared in small batches throughout the day. The items are served promptly in relatively small serving pans in order to ensure that all items are fresh, visually appealing and served at the proper temperature. HTB regularly tests new menu items and upgrades ingredients and cooking methods in order to improve the quality and consistency of its food offerings.

Operations. The HomeTown Buffet restaurants are supervised directly by a Vice President of HomeTown Buffet operations, who reports to the Company's President. Each HomeTown Buffet restaurant has a general manager and at least three co-managers or assistant managers. Managers are required to attend formal training sessions in management and operations of the restaurant. In addition, each restaurant manager is required to comply with an extensive operations manual to assure uniformity of operations and consistent high quality of products. The Company has a performance based incentive program covering its general and assistant managers in addition to a competitive base salary.

Individual restaurants typically employ between 70 and 110 non-management hourly employees (made up of a mix of part-time and full-time workers), depending on restaurant size and traffic.

CASA BONITA

Concept and Menu. The Company's two Casa Bonita restaurants are located in Denver, Colorado and Tulsa, Oklahoma and contain 42,000 and 26,000 square feet, respectively. The restaurants are designed to recreate the atmosphere of a Mexican village at night. The restaurants also feature entertainment daily, including strolling mariachis, authentic Mexican dancers, magicians, games and cliff divers. The restaurant's entertainment, combined with high quality, authentic Mexican food, is designed to attract a diverse customer base, including tourists and local customers. In addition to typical Mexican menu offerings, these restaurants feature all-you-can-eat dinners which offer customers unlimited servings of selected menu items.

The Company focuses on three primary target audiences in its advertising and promotional programs for its Casa Bonita restaurants: (i) local customers;
(ii) tourists; and (iii) groups and parties. The Company markets aggressively to attract tourists by placing advertisements in local tourist and special event guides and by otherwise promoting each Casa Bonita restaurant as a local attraction. With its large dining areas and

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private rooms, the Company also promotes Casa Bonita as an ideal setting for banquets, private parties and other group events.

JJ NORTH'S GRAND BUFFET

Concept and Menu. The Company's seven JJ North's Grand Buffet Restaurants are located in Idaho (3) Washington (2) Oregon (1) and Utah (1). The restaurants are approximately 6,000 to 10,000 square feet and seat approximately 210 to 320 customers. The restaurants offer fixed price lunch, dinner and weekend breakfast menus that entitle each customer to unlimited servings of all menu items and beverages. Prices are approximately $5.99 for lunch and approximately $7.99 for dinner, and may vary depending on restaurant location. The restaurants offer reduced prices to children under age 12 and to senior citizens.

Operations. The JJ North's restaurants are supervised by a Vice President of Operations who reports to the Company's President. Each restaurant has a general manager and two assistant managers and typically employs between 40 and 100 hourly employees (made up of a mix of part-time and full-time workers) depending on restaurant size and traffic.

RELATIONSHIP WITH CKE

In connection with the Initial Public Offering, the Company and CKE entered into a CKE Service Agreement pursuant to which CKE provides the Company with certain multi-unit retail infrastructure support in exchange for an annual fee of $350,000, which fee may be increased up to 10% per year based upon increases in CKE's cost of providing such services. Such services consist of (i) accounting and administrative services, such as maintaining accounting records, performing accounting activities, preparing financial reports, operating and maintaining the information technology system, establishing and administering certain employee benefits and complying with reporting obligations thereunder,
(ii) financial services, including the identification and analysis of possible transactions and related financial and strategic advice, assistance in budget and forecast preparation, consultations and advice as to presentations, discussions and disclosures to financial analysts and the financial press and advice concerning crisis management and control, (iii) real estate services, including site analysis and other real estate matters, and (iv) purchasing services. The CKE Service Agreement has a five year term and will expire, unless extended, on September 15, 2002. CKE or the Company may terminate the agreement upon 90 days written notice.

LICENSES, TRADEMARKS AND SERVICE MARKS

The Company purchased the trademarks and service marks for JJ North's Grand Buffet, Casa Bonitas and BuddyFreddys. The Company has entered into a license agreement with CKE for use of the "Star" name and design. The Company utilizes the JB's Restaurant and HomeTown Buffet marks pursuant to various franchise agreements. The Company also has entered into license agreements for the Stacey's Buffet mark, which the Company plans to use until such restaurants are converted to the Company's other buffet concepts. The Company is utilizing the Maggie's name until such restaurants are converted to one of the Company's other buffet concepts.

SEASONALITY

The Company's business is seasonal in nature with the spring and summer quarters being the highest volume periods. The Company's lowest volume periods typically occur during the fall and winter fiscal quarters.

COMPETITION

The restaurant industry is highly competitive. The Company competes on the basis of the quality and value of food products offered, price, service, location and overall dining experience. The Company's primary competitor in the buffet restaurant business is Buffets, Inc., which owns, operates and franchises the HomeTown Buffet and Old Country Buffet restaurant concepts. The Company also competes with a large and diverse group of restaurant chains and individually owned restaurants, including chains and individually owned

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restaurants that utilize a buffet format. The number of buffet restaurants with operations generally similar to the Company's has grown considerably in the last several years and the Company believes competition among buffet restaurants is increasing. As the Company and its principal competitors expand operations in various geographic areas, competition, including competition among buffet restaurants with concepts similar to the Company's concepts, can be expected to intensify. Such intensified competition could increase the Company's operating costs or adversely affect its revenues. A number of competitors have been in existence longer than the Company and have substantially greater financial, marketing and other resources and wider geographical diversity than the Company. In addition, the restaurant industry is affected by changes in consumer tastes, national, regional and local economic conditions and market trends. The performance of individual restaurants may be affected by factors such as traffic patterns, demographic considerations and the type, number and location of competing restaurants. The Company's significant investment in and long-term commitment to each of its restaurant sites limits its ability to respond quickly or effectively to changes in local competitive conditions or other changes that could have a material adverse effect on the Company's operations. The Company's continued success is dependent to a substantial extent on its reputation for providing high quality and value and this reputation may be affected not only by the performance of its restaurants but also by the performance of franchisor-owned restaurants and restaurants operated by other franchisees, over which the Company has no control.

GOVERNMENT REGULATION

The restaurant industry is subject to numerous federal, state and local government regulations, including those relating to the preparation and sale of food and building and zoning requirements.

In addition, the Company is subject to laws governing its relationship with employees, including minimum wage requirements, overtime, working and safety conditions and citizenship requirements. Many of the Company's employees are paid hourly rates based upon the federal and state minimum wage laws. Recent legislation increasing the minimum wage has resulted in higher labor costs to the Company. An increase in the minimum wage rate, employee benefit costs or other costs associated with employees, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.

EMPLOYEES

As of April 17, 1998, the Company employed approximately 2,940 persons, of whom approximately 2,775 were restaurant employees, and approximately 165 were restaurant management, supervisory and corporate personnel. Restaurant employees include both full-time and part-time workers and all are typically paid on an hourly basis. No Company employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements. The Company believes that its relations with its employees are generally good.

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DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the Company's directors and executive officers:

           NAME               AGE                           POSITION
           ----               ---                           --------
William P. Foley II.......    53       Chairman of the Board
Robert E. Wheaton.........    45       Chief Executive Officer, President and Director
Theodore Abajian..........    34       Chief Financial Officer
Charlotte L. Miller.......    41       General Counsel and Secretary
C. Thomas Thompson........    48       Director
Stuart W. Clifton.........    53       Director
Jack M. Lloyd.............    47       Director
Thomas G. Schadt..........    56       Director
Norman N. Habermann.......    64       Director
John F. North, Jr.........    49       Director

William P. Foley II has served as the Chairman of the Board of the Company since its formation in July 1997. Mr. Foley has been the Chief Executive Officer of CKE since October 1994, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of CKE since March 1994, and has served as a director of CKE since December 1993. Since 1981, Mr. Foley has been Chairman of the Board, President (until January 1995) and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity National Financial, Inc., a company engaged in title insurance and related services. Mr. Foley also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. and GB Foods Corporation and as a member of the Boards of Directors of Rally's Hamburgers, Inc., DataWorks Corporation and Micro General Corporation.

Robert E. Wheaton has served as the Chief Executive Officer, President and as a director of the Company since its formation in July 1997. Mr. Wheaton also served as a director of Stacey's Buffet, Inc. from October 31, 1997 to February 4, 1998 and as interim Chief Executive Officer of Stacey's from December 24, 1997 to February 4, 1998. Mr. Wheaton has served as an Executive Vice President of CKE since January 1996. From April 1995 to January 1996, he served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Denny's Inc., a subsidiary of Flagstar Corporation. From 1991 to 1995, Mr. Wheaton served as President and Chief Executive Officer, and from 1989 to 1991 as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of The Bekins Company.

Theodore Abajian has served as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company since its formation in July 1997. Mr. Abajian also served as a director of Stacey's Buffet, Inc. from October 31, 1997 to February 4, 1998. Mr. Abajian has been the Vice President and Controller of Summit Family Restaurants Inc. since 1994. From 1983 to 1994, he held several positions with Family Restaurants, Inc., including Director of Financial Analysis, Planning and Reporting for the family restaurant division, which included approximately 350 Carrows and Coco's restaurants.

Charlotte L. Miller has been Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company since its formation in July 1997. Ms. Miller has been Sr. Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Summit Family Restaurants Inc. since July 1996 and prior to that time was Sr. Vice President and General Counsel of Summit.

C. Thomas Thompson has been a director of the Company since its formation in July 1997. Mr. Thompson has served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of CKE since October 1994. Mr. Thompson has been a franchisee of CKE since 1984, and currently operates 15 Carl's Jr. Restaurants in

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the San Francisco Bay Area. Mr. Thompson also currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. and a member of the Board of Directors of Rally's Hamburgers, Inc. Mr. Thompson has more than 25 years of experience in the restaurant industry. He previously held positions with Jack-in-the-Box.

Stuart W. Clifton has served as a director of the Company since the completion of the Company's Initial Public Offering in September, 1997. Since 1987, Mr. Clifton has been the Chief Executive Officer and President and a member of the Board of Directors of DataWorks Corporation, a supplier of information systems to manufacturing companies.

Thomas G. Schadt has served as a director of the Company since the completion of the Company's Initial Public Offering in September, 1997. Mr. Schadt has been the Chief Executive Officer of a privately-held beverage distribution company, Bear Creek, L.L.C., since 1995. From 1976 to 1994, he held several positions with Pepsico, Inc., most recently, Vice President of Food Service.

Norman N. Habermann has served as a director of the Company since the completion of the Company's Initial Public Offering in September, 1997. Since February 1994, Mr. Habermann has been the President of Scobrett Associates, Inc., which is involved in venture capital and consulting activities. From December 1986 to January 1994, Mr. Habermann was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Restaurant Enterprises Group, Inc. and its predecessors. From November 1994 until its acquisition by CKE in July 1996, Mr. Habermann was a director of Summit. Mr. Habermann also serves as a director of International Food & Beverage, Inc.

Jack M. Lloyd has served as a director of the Company since the completion of the Company's Initial Public Offering in September, 1997. Mr. Lloyd has served as Chairman of the Board of DenAmerica Corp. since July 9, 1996 and as President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of DenAmerica Corp. since March 29, 1996. Mr. Lloyd served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Denwest Restaurant Corp. ("DRC") from 1987 until the March 1996 merger of DRC and DenAmerica and served as President of DRC from 1987 until November 1994. Mr. Lloyd engaged in commercial and residential real estate development and property management as President of First Federated Investment Corporation during the early and mid-1980's. Mr. Lloyd also currently serves as a director of Action Performance Companies, Inc.

John F. North, Jr. has served as a director of the Company since the completion of the Company's initial public offering in September, 1997. Mr. North is the co-founder of JJ North's Grand Buffet and, since 1978, has served as the President and Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors of North's Restaurants, Inc.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

The Company's headquarters is located in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Company's restaurants are primarily freestanding locations. As of January 26, 1998 all of the Company's restaurant facilities were leased in order to reduce the initial costs of development. The leases expire on dates ranging from 2000 to 2014 with the majority of the leases providing for renewal options. All leases provide for specified periodic rental payments, and most call for additional rental based upon revenue volume. Most of the leases require the Company to maintain the property and to pay for the cost of insurance and taxes. In addition, the Company seeks to obtain construction allowances from the landlord in order to defray the cost of improvements.

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As of January 26, 1998, the Company's restaurants are located in the following states:

                                                          NUMBER OF RESTAURANTS
                                               -------------------------------------------
                                               HOMETOWN      JJ
                    STATE                       BUFFET     NORTH'S    CASA BONITA    TOTAL
                    -----                      --------    -------    -----------    -----
Arizona......................................     8          --           --           8
Colorado.....................................     2          --            1           3
Idaho........................................     --          3           --           3
New Mexico...................................     2          --           --           2
Oklahoma.....................................     --         --            1           1
Oregon.......................................     --          1           --           1
Utah.........................................     3           1           --           4
Washington...................................     --          2           --           2
Wyoming......................................     1          --           --           1
                                               --------    -------    -----------    -----
          Total..............................     16          7            2          25
                                               ========    =======    ===========    =====

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

On October 8, 1997, the Company's subsidiaries, HTB and Summit Family Restaurants Inc. ("Summit"), entered into a settlement agreement with HomeTown Buffet, Inc., and Buffets, Inc., thereby resolving litigation that had been initiated by HTB, Summit and CKE on August 9, 1996, in the United States District Court for the District of Utah, Central Division against Buffets, Inc. and HomeTown Buffet, Inc. for violation of federal and state antitrust laws and other claims. The settlement agreement clarified certain relationships between the parties and certain information to be provided by HTB to HomeTown Buffet, Inc. No money damages were paid as part of the settlement.

The Company is from time to time the subject of complaints or litigation from customers alleging illness, injury or other food quality, health or operational concerns. Adverse publicity resulting from such allegations may materially adversely affect the Company and its restaurants, regardless of whether such allegations are valid or whether the Company is liable. The Company also is the subject of complaints or allegations from employees from time to time. The Company believes that the lawsuits, claims and other legal matters to which it has become subject in the course of its business are not material to the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations, but an existing or future lawsuit or claim could result in an adverse decision against the Company that could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

None.

10

PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER

MATTERS

The Company's Common Stock which began trading on September 30, 1997 after the completion of the Company's Initial Public Offering, is listed on the NASDAQ National Market System under the symbol "STRZ". As of March 31, 1998, there were approximately four record holders of the Company's Common Stock. The following table sets forth the high and low bid quotations for the Common Stock, as reported by NASDAQ.

                                                                HIGH     LOW
                                                                -----   -----
FISCAL 1998
  First Quarter.............................................       --      --
  Second Quarter............................................       --      --
  Third Quarter.............................................    $16 1/2 $13 1/4
  Fourth Quarter............................................     13 5/8  11 3/8

In connection with the Company's Initial Public Offering, the Company declared and paid a cash dividend of $9.3 million to CKE. Other than this dividend, the Company has never declared or paid dividends on its Common Stock. The Company expects future earnings, if any, will be retained to finance the operation and expansion of the Company's business and, accordingly, does not intend to declare or pay any cash dividends on the Common Stock in the foreseeable future.

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The selected financial information and other data presented below should be read in conjunction with the "Consolidated Financial Statements", and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations' included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. The selected consolidated financial data presented below, except store data, has been derived from the historical consolidated financial statements of the Company and its predecessor. The operating statement data for the periods ending July 15, 1996, and prior include only the results of operations of HTB Restaurants, Inc., an operator of franchised HomeTown Buffet restaurants, and are referred to herein as the Predecessor Company or Predecessor. Summit Family Restaurants Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary HTB was acquired by CKE on July 15, 1996 (the "Summit Acquisition"). Operating statement data for periods beginning after July 15, 1996 are herein referred to as the Successor Company or Successor. The operating statement data for the twenty-eight weeks ending January 27, 1997 include the results of operations of HTB and the results of operations of the two Casa Bonita restaurants from October 1, 1996, (the date of the Casa Bonita acquisition). The fifty-two week period ended January 26, 1998 includes the results of operations of seven JJ North's Grand Buffet Restaurants operated by the Company from September 30, 1997, (the date of JJ North's acquisition).

The table also sets forth the pro forma income statement data for the fifty-two week period ended January 27, 1997, which combines the results of operations for the Predecessor Company and the Successor Company as if the Casa Bonita acquisition had occurred on January 26, 1996. The pro forma data set forth below for the period presented is unaudited and has been prepared by management solely to facilitate period-to-period comparison and do not purport to be indicative of the consolidated results of operations that would have occurred had the acquisition occurred at January 26, 1996, or which may be expected to occur in the future.

11

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
(IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS AND RESTAURANT DATA)

                                                     SUCCESSOR                           PREDECESSOR
                                            -----------------------------   -------------------------------------
                                                             TWENTY-EIGHT    THIRTY
                                             FIFTY-TWO        WEEKS FROM     WEEKS       FIFTY-TWO WEEKS ENDED       PRO FORMA
                                               WEEKS        JULY 16, 1996    ENDED    ---------------------------    YEAR ENDED
                                               ENDED              TO        JULY 15,   DEC. 18,  DEC. 19,  DEC. 20,   JAN. 27,
                                           JAN. 26, 1998    JAN. 27, 1997     1996      1995      1994      1993        1997
                                           -------------    -------------   --------   -------   -------   -------   ----------
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS DATA:
Total revenues............................     $54,659         $23,632      $23,207   $36,741   $30,871   $13,167    $50,938
Costs and expenses:
    Food costs............................      18,024           8,371        8,569    13,769    11,469     4,918     17,358
    Labor costs...........................      17,301           7,565        6,810    10,878     9,089     3,732     15,792
    Occupancy and other expenses..........      10,829           4,732        5,030     8,954     6,769     2,695     10,154
    General and administrative............       2,291           1,062        1,193     1,666     1,762       980      2,424
    Depreciation and amortization.........       2,109             988          914     1,232       821       384      1,975
                                               -------         -------      -------   -------   -------   -------    -------
        Total costs and expenses..........      50,554          22,718       22,516    36,499    29,910    12,709     47,703
                                               -------         -------      -------   -------   -------   -------    -------
Income from operations....................       4,105             914          691       242       961       458      3,235
Interest expense..........................        (200)           (106)        (145)     (192)     (203)     (110)      (220)
Other Income..............................         593              --           --        --        --        --         --
                                               -------         -------      -------   -------   -------   -------    -------
Income before income taxes................       4,498             808          546        50       758       348      3,015
Income taxes..............................       1,799             338          216        22       301       139      1,206
                                               -------         -------      -------   -------   -------   -------    -------
Net Income................................     $ 2,699         $   470      $   330   $    28   $   457   $   209    $ 1,809
                                               =======         =======      =======   =======   =======   =======    =======
Net Income per common share -- diluted....     $  0.76         $  0.18
                                               =======         =======
Weighted average shares outstanding -
  diluted.................................       3,528           2,600
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Total assets..............................     $40,969         $16,783                $16,283   $13,003   $ 9,026
Total debt including current portion......       2,368           2,609                 11,150     6,714     5,076
Stockholders' equity......................     $32,537         $ 9,742                $ 1,806   $ 1,801   $ 2,134
OTHER DATA:
Operating units(1)
    HomeTown Buffet.......................          16              16           16        16        14         7         16
    JJ North's Grand Buffet...............           7              --           --        --        --        --         --
    Casa Bonita...........................           2               2           --        --        --        --          2
                                               -------         -------      -------   -------   -------   -------    -------
TOTAL.....................................          18              18           16        16        14         7         18
                                               =======         =======      =======   =======   =======   =======    =======


(1) At the end of the respective periods.

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following Management's Discussion and Analysis should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of the Company, and the notes thereto, presented elsewhere in this Form 10-K. The pro forma results of operations for the fifty-two weeks ended January 27, 1997, ("Pro Forma Fiscal 1997") include fifty-two weeks of operations for both the Company's sixteen franchised Hometown Buffet Restaurants and the Company's two Casa Bonita Restaurants. The results of operations for the period ended January 26, 1998, ("Fiscal 1998") include fifty-two weeks of operations for the Company's sixteen franchised Hometown Buffet Restaurants, fifty-two weeks of operations for the Company's two Casa Bonita Restaurants and seventeen weeks of operations for the seven JJ North's Grand Buffet restaurants operated by the Company. Comparability of future periods may also from time to time be affected by the implementation of the Company's acquisition and strategic alliance strategies, and the costs associated with integrating new restaurants or under performing or unprofitable restaurants, if any, acquired or otherwise operated by the Company may have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations.

12

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following table summarizes the Company's results of operations as a percentage of total revenues for Pro Forma Fiscal 1997, the twenty-eight weeks ended January 27, 1997, and Fiscal 1998.

                                                                 THE COMPANY
                                                     -----------------------------------      PRO FORMA
                                                        FIFTY-TWO                             FIFTY-TWO
                                                          WEEKS           TWENTY-EIGHT          WEEKS
                                                          ENDED           WEEKS ENDED           ENDED
                                                     JANUARY 26, 1998   JANUARY 27, 1997   JANUARY 27, 1997
                                                     ----------------   ----------------   ----------------
TOTAL REVENUES.....................................       100.0%             100.0%             100.0%
                                                          -----              -----              -----
Costs and expenses:
     Food costs....................................        33.0               35.4               34.1
     Labor costs...................................        31.6               32.0               31.0
     Occupancy and other expenses..................        19.8               20.0               19.9
     General and administrative expenses...........         4.2                4.5                4.8
     Depreciation and amortization.................         3.9                4.2                3.9
                                                          -----              -----              -----
TOTAL COSTS AND EXPENSES...........................        92.5               96.1               93.7
                                                          -----              -----              -----
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS.............................         7.5                3.9                6.3
     Interest expense..............................        (0.4)              (0.5)              (0.4)
     Other income..................................         1.1                 --                 --
                                                          -----              -----              -----
     Income before income taxes....................         8.2                3.4                5.9
INCOME TAX EXPENSE.................................        (3.3)              (1.4)              (2.4)
                                                          -----              -----              -----
NET INCOME.........................................         4.9%               2.0%               3.5%
                                                          =====              =====              =====

Comparison of Pro Forma Fiscal 1997 to Fiscal 1998

Total revenues increased $3.7 million or 7.3% from $50.9 million in Pro Forma Fiscal 1997 to $54.6 million in fiscal 1998. The increase was attributable to the addition of seven JJ North's grand Buffet Restaurants in Fiscal 1998 ($2.7 million) and a 2.5% or $1.0 million increase in same store sales at the Company's HomeTown Buffet Restaurants.

Food costs as a percent of total revenues decreased from 34.1% in Pro Forma Fiscal 1997 to 33.0% in Fiscal 1998. The decrease is primarily attributable to a 1.7% decrease in food cost in the Company's HomeTown Buffet restaurants resulting from improved restaurant operations and purchasing economies.

Labor costs as a percent of total revenues increased from 31.0% in Pro Forma Fiscal 1997 to 31.6% in Fiscal 1998. The increase was primarily attributable to addition of seven JJ North's Restaurants which operate at a higher labor cost than the Company's sixteen HomeTown Buffet Restaurants.

General and administrative expenses as a percentage of total revenues decreased from 4.8% in Pro Forma Fiscal 1997 to 4.2% in Fiscal 1998. The decrease is primarily attributable to lower general and administrative costs resulting from the July 1996 acquisition of the Predecessor by CKE.

Other income in Fiscal 1998 represents interest income on cash balances and notes receivable ($321,000) and management fee income ($272,000) resulting from the Company's strategic alliance with Stacey's Buffet, Inc.

Comparison of the twenty-eight weeks ended January 27, 1997, to Fiscal 1998

Due to the differing lengths of time included in each period presented, the comparison of these periods may not be meaningful or indicative of future results.

Revenues increased $31.1 million or 131.8% from $23.6 million for the twenty-eight weeks ended January 27, 1997, to $54.7 million for Fiscal 1998. The increase is attributable to the full year impact of the Company's HomeTown Buffet and Casa Bonita restaurants, $18.9 million and $8.5 million respectively, the

13

addition of seven JJ North's Grand Buffet Restaurants in Fiscal 1998 ($2.7 million) and a 2.5% or $1.0 million increase in same store sales at the Company's HomeTown Buffet Restaurants.

Food costs as a percentage of total revenues decreased from 35.4% for the twenty-eight weeks ended January 27, 1997, to 33.0% for Fiscal 1998. The decrease is attributable to the inclusion of Casa Bonita for a full year, which operates at a lower level of food costs.

Labor costs as a percentage of total revenues decreased from 32.0% for the twenty-eight weeks ended January 27, 1997, to 31.6% for Fiscal 1998. The decrease is attributable to a consistent improvement in labor costs in the Casa Bonita restaurants.

Occupancy and other, general and administrative and depreciation and amortization expenses as a percentage of total revenues have all decreased in Fiscal 1998 as compared to the twenty-eight weeks ended January 27, 1997. These decreases are attributable to the inclusion of Casa Bonita for a full year.

Other income in Fiscal 1998 represents interest income on cash balances and notes receivable ($321,000) and management fee income ($272,000) resulting from the Company's strategic alliance with Stacey's Buffet, Inc.

14

FINANCIAL CONDITION

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The Company, prior to the reorganization, historically financed operations through a combination of cash on hand, cash provided from operations and available borrowings under bank lines of credit. As of January 26, 1998, the Company had $15.4 million in cash and cash equivalents.

Cash provided by operations was approximately $6.0 million for Fiscal 1998 and approximately $1.9 million for the twenty-eight weeks ended January 27, 1997. The Company completed an Initial Public Offering on September 30, 1997 generating net proceeds after commissions and offering expenses of $30.8 million. Concurrent with the Initial Public Offering, the Company used $9.3 million to pay a dividend to CKE, $4.5 million to acquire certain JJ North's restaurants, $1.1 million to acquire the net assets of two Casa Bonita restaurants and $2.0 million to fund capital additions. As of January 26, 1998, the Company has loaned $3.4 million to North's and $710,000 to Stacey's. In addition, the Company, through its credit agreement with North's has committed to lend up to an additional $350,000 to North's. The Company expects to provide these funds through available cash on hand.

On February 13, 1998, the Company acquired three Stacey's Buffet restaurants located in Florida from Stacey's for $1.0 million. The purchase price was paid by cancellation of Stacey's debt to the Company which was incurred as part of the strategic alliance between the two companies. The company and Stacey's have mutually agreed to terminate their strategic alliance including any future obligations of the Company to make loans to Stacey's.

During the first quarter of fiscal 1999, the Company completed several acquisitions of restaurants utilizing, in aggregate, approximately $8.9 million in cash (see Note 11 -- Subsequent Events included in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). The largest of the acquisitions was twelve JB's Restaurants from CKE. These restaurants will be converted to the Company's small-format buffet concept at a cost of $250,000 to $300,000 each. One of these conversions was completed in the first quarter of fiscal 1999.

The Company does not currently have a bank line of credit or other working capital facility available to it. The Company intends to obtain a bank credit facility to support its working capital requirements. Management anticipates that the credit facility will contain customary affirmative and negative covenants, including maintaining certain minimum working capital, net worth and financial ratios and restrictions on the Company's ability to pay dividends on the Company's common stock. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to arrange a credit facility when required or on terms acceptable to the Company.

The Company intends to expand its operations through the opening of new restaurants and the acquisition of regional buffet chains. In addition, the Company may expand through the purchase of existing restaurant sites, which would be converted to one of the Company's restaurant concepts. Management estimates the cost of opening its prototype restaurant to be approximately $1.5 million to $1.7 million assuming leased real estate. In many instances, management believes that existing restaurant locations can be acquired and converted to the Company's prototype at a lower cost than new unit openings. These costs consist primarily of exterior and interior appearance modifications and certain kitchen and food service equipment. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to acquire additional restaurant chains or locations or, if acquired, that these restaurants will have a positive contribution to the Company's results of operations.

The Company believes that the proceeds from the Initial Public Offering and its cash flow from operations will be sufficient to satisfy its working capital, and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next twelve months. If those sources of capital are insufficient to satisfy the Company's capital spending and working capital requirements, or if the Company determines to make any significant acquisitions, or investments in other businesses, the Company may seek to raise additional funds through public or private equity and/or debt financings or from other sources. There can be no assurance, however, that changes in the Company's operating plans, the unavailability of a credit facility, the acceleration of the Company's expansion plans, lower than anticipated revenues, increased expenses, potential acquisitions or other events will not cause

15

the Company to seek additional financing sooner than anticipated. There can be no assurance that additional financing will be available on acceptable terms or at all.

YEAR 2000

The Company is currently working to resolve the potential impact of the year 2000 on the processing of data-sensitive information by the Company's computerized information systems. The year 2000 problem is the result of computer programs being written using two digits (rather than four) to define the applicable year. Any of the Company's programs that have time-sensitive software may recognize a date using "00" as the year 1900 rather than the year 2000, which could result in miscalculations or system failures. Based on preliminary information, costs of addressing potential problems are not currently expected to have a material adverse impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows in future periods. However, the inability of the Company or its suppliers or distributors and other vendors to resolve such processing issues in a timely manner could have a material adverse impact on the Company. Accordingly, the Company plans to devote the necessary resources to resolve all significant year 2000 issues in a timely manner.

IMPACT OF INFLATION

Management recognizes that inflation has an impact on food, construction, labor and benefit costs, all of which can significantly affect the Company's operations. Historically, the Company has been able to pass any associated higher costs due to these inflationary factors along to its customers because those factors have impacted nearly all restaurant companies, During fiscal 1998 and fiscal 1997, however, management has emphasized cost controls rather than price increases, given the competitive pressure within the buffet style restaurant industry.

NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In June 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income" ("SFAS 130"). SFAS 130 establishes standards for the reporting and display of comprehensive income and its components (revenues, expenses, gains and losses) in a full set of general- purpose financial statements. SFAS 130 requires all items that are required to be recognized under accounting standards as components of comprehensive income to be reported in a financial statement that is displayed with the same prominence as other financial statements. SFAS 130 does not require a specific format for that financial statement but requires that an enterprise display an amount representing total comprehensive income for the period covered by that financial statement. SFAS 130 requires an enterprise to (a) classify items of other comprehensive income by their nature in a financial statement and (b) display the accumulated balance of other comprehensive income separately from retained earnings and additional paid-in capital in the equity section of a statement of financial position. SFAS 130 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1997. Management has not determined whether the adoption of SFAS 130 will have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In June 1997, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information" ("SFAS 131"). SFAS 131 establishes standards for public business enterprises to report information about operating segments in annual financial statements and requires that those enterprises report selected information about operating segments in interim financial reports issued to shareholders. It also establishes standards for related disclosures about products and services, geographic areas and major customers. This statement supersedes Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 14, Financial Reporting for Segments of a Business Enterprise, but retains the requirement to report information about major customers. It amends Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 94, Consolidation of All Majority-Owned Subsidiaries, to remove the special disclosure requirements for previously unconsolidated subsidiaries. SFAS 131 requires, among other items, that a public business enterprise report a measure of segment profit or loss, certain specific revenue and expense items, and segment assets, information about the revenues derived from the enterprise's products or services, and major customers. SFAS 131 also requires that the enterprise report descriptive information about the way that the operating

16

segments were determined and the products and services provided by the operating segments. SFAS 131 is effective for financial statements for periods beginning after December 15, 1997. In the initial year of application, comparative information for earlier years is to be restated. SFAS 131 need not be applied to interim financial statements in the initial year of its application, but comparative information for interim periods in the initial year of application is to be reported in financial statements for interim periods in the second year of application. Management has not determined whether the adoption of SFAS 131 will have a material impact on the Company's segment reporting.

In December 1997, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (the "AICPA") approved for issuance the Statement of Position ("SOP"), Reporting on the Costs of Start-Up Activities. The SOP requires that costs incurred during a start-up activity (including organization costs) be expensed as incurred. The SOP is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1998. The Company currently amortizes pre-opening costs over one year from the time they are incurred. Management has not determined whether the adoption of this SOP will have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial position or results of operations.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

See the Index included at "Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K."

The following table presents summarized quarterly results for the Successor Company.

                                                                          UNAUDITED
                                                            -------------------------------------
                                                              1ST       2ND       3RD       4TH
                                                            -------   -------   -------   -------
                                                                   (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS,
                                                                  EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
FISCAL YEAR 1998
Total Revenues............................................  $16,581   $12,726   $12,178   $13,174
Operating Income..........................................    1,553     1,433       684       435
Net Income................................................      895       832       440       532
Net Income per share -- basic.............................  $  0.35   $  0.32   $  0.12   $  0.10
                                                            -------   -------   -------   -------
Net Income per share -- diluted...........................  $  0.35   $  0.32   $  0.12   $  0.10
                                                            -------   -------   -------   -------
FISCAL YEAR 1997
Total Revenues............................................      N/A   $ 3,026   $ 9,573   $11,033
Operating Income..........................................      N/A        64       302       548
Net Income................................................      N/A        18       151       301
Net Income per share -- basic.............................      N/A   $  0.01   $  0.06   $  0.12
                                                                      -------   -------   -------
Net Income per share -- diluted...........................      N/A   $  0.01   $  0.06   $  0.12
                                                                      -------   -------   -------

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None

17

PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

The information pertaining to directors and executive officers of the registrant is hereby incorporated by reference to the Company's Proxy Statement to be used in connection with the Company's 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be filed with the Commission within 120 days of January 26, 1998. Information concerning the current executive officers of the Company is contained in Item 1 of Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The information pertaining to executive compensation is hereby incorporated by reference to the Company's Proxy Statement to be used in connection with the Company's 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be filed with the Commission within 120 days of January 26, 1998.

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The information pertaining to security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management is hereby incorporated by reference to the Company's Proxy Statement to be used in connection with the Company's 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be filed with the Commission within 120 days of January 26, 1998.

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

The information pertaining to certain relationships and related transactions is hereby incorporated by reference to the Company's Proxy Statement to be used in connection with the Company's 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be filed with the Commission within 120 days of January 26, 1998.

18

PART IV

ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

(A)(1) INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:

                                                              PAGE NUMBER
                                                              -----------
Independent Auditors' Report................................      F-1
Consolidated Balance Sheets -- as of January 26, 1998 and
  January 27, 1997..........................................      F-2
Consolidated Statements of Income -- for the 52-weeks ended
  January 26, 1998, 28-weeks ended January 27, 1997,
  30-weeks ended July 15, 1996 and 52-weeks ended December
  18, 1995..................................................      F-4
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity -- for the
  52-weeks ended January 26, 1998, 28-weeks ended January
  27, 1997, 30-weeks ended July 15, 1996 and 52-weeks ended
  December 18, 1995.........................................      F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows -- for the 52-weeks
  ended January 26, 1998, 28-weeks ended January 27, 1997,
  30-weeks ended July 15, 1996 and 52-weeks ended December
  18, 1995..................................................      F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements..................      F-7

(A)(2) INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES:

        All schedules are omitted since the required information is not
        present in amounts sufficient to require submission of the
        schedule, or because the information required is included in the
        consolidated financial statements or the notes thereto.

(A)(3)  EXHIBITS:

        An "Exhibit Index" has been filed as a part of this Form 10-K
        beginning on Page E-1 hereof and is incorporated herein by
        reference.

(B)     CURRENT REPORTS ON FORM 8-K:

        A current report on Form 8-K dated November 17, 1997 was filed
        during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year to report the
        Company's Strategic alliance and credit agreement with Stacey's
        Buffet, Inc.

        A current report on Form 8-K/A dated December 12, 1997 was filed
        during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year to amend a report on
        Form 8-K filed on October 17, 1997.

19

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of l934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

STAR BUFFET, INC.
(Registrant)

April 24, 1998                            By:     /s/ ROBERT E. WHEATON
                                            ------------------------------------
                                                     Robert E. Wheaton
                                               President and Chief Executive
                                                           Officer
                                               (principal executive officer)

April 24, 1998                            By:     /s/ THEODORE ABAJIAN
                                            ------------------------------------
                                                      Theodore Abajian
                                              Chief Financial Officer Officer
                                               (principal financial officer)

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of l934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

                      SIGNATURE                                       TITLE                      DATE
                      ---------                                       -----                      ----
              /s/ William P. Foley, II                        Chairman of the Board         April 24, 1998
-----------------------------------------------------
                William P. Foley, II

                /s/ ROBERT E. WHEATON                     President and Chief Executive     April 24, 1998
-----------------------------------------------------         Officer and Director
                  Robert E. Wheaton

                /s/ STUART W. CLIFTON                               Director                April 24, 1998
-----------------------------------------------------
                  Stuart W. Clifton

                  /s/ JACK M. LLOYD                                 Director                April 24, 1998
-----------------------------------------------------
                    Jack M. Lloyd

                /s/ THOMAS G. SCHADT                                Director                April 24, 1998
-----------------------------------------------------
                  Thomas G. Schadt

                                                                    Director                April   , 1998
-----------------------------------------------------
                 Norman N. Habermann

               /s/ JOHN F. NORTH, JR.                               Director                April 24, 1998
-----------------------------------------------------
                 John F. North, Jr.

20

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

The Stockholders and Board of Directors
Star Buffet, Inc.:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Star Buffet, Inc. and subsidiaries (Successor Company) as of January 26, 1998 and January 27, 1997, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for the 52-week period ended January 26, 1998 and the 28-week period ended January 27, 1997 (Successor Period) and the statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows of HTB Restaurants, Inc. (Predecessor Company) for the 30-week period ended July 15, 1996 and the 52-week period ended December 18, 1995 (Predecessor Period). These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the aforementioned Successor consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material aspects, the financial position of Star Buffet, Inc. (and CKE operations that became Star) and subsidiaries as of January 26, 1998 and January 27, 1997, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the Successor Period, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Further, in our opinion, the aforementioned Predecessor consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the results of operations and cash flows of HomeTown Buffet, Inc. for the Predecessor Period, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, effective July 16, 1996, CKE acquired all of the outstanding stock of HTB Restaurants, Inc. in a business combination accounted for as a purchase. As a result of the acquisition, the consolidated financial information for the periods after the acquisition is presented on a different cost basis than that for the periods before the acquisition and, therefore, is not comparable.

KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

Salt Lake City, Utah
March 16, 1998

F-1

STAR BUFFET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                                                              JANUARY 26,   JANUARY 27,
                                                                 1998          1997
                                                              -----------   -----------
ASSETS
Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents.................................  $15,387,000   $   353,000
  Short term investments....................................           --       180,000
  Current portion of notes and other receivables............      336,000        71,000
  Inventories...............................................      493,000       383,000
  Deferred income taxes, net................................      110,000       193,000
  Prepaid expenses..........................................      204,000        84,000
                                                              -----------   -----------
Total current assets:.......................................   16,530,000     1,264,000
Property, buildings and equipment, at cost, less accumulated
  depreciation..............................................   15,077,000    12,430,000
Real property and equipment under capitalized leases, at
  cost, less accumulated amortization.......................    2,287,000     2,396,000
Notes receivable, net of current portion....................    3,235,000            --
Deposits and other..........................................    2,167,000       375,000
Goodwill, less accumulated amortization.....................    1,380,000            --
Franchise costs less accumulated amortization...............      293,000       318,000
                                                              -----------   -----------
Total assets................................................  $40,969,000   $16,783,000
                                                              ===========   ===========

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

F-2

STAR BUFFET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                                                              JANUARY 26,   JANUARY 27,
                                                                 1998          1997
                                                              -----------   -----------
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable-trade....................................  $ 2,212,000   $ 2,226,000
  Payroll and related taxes.................................    1,643,000     1,207,000
  Sales and property taxes..................................    1,178,000       632,000
  Rent, licenses and other..................................      822,000       367,000
  Current maturities of obligations under capital leases....      259,000       239,000
  Other current liabilities.................................      209,000            --
                                                              -----------   -----------
Total current liabilities...................................    6,323,000     4,671,000
Capitalized lease obligations, net of current maturities....    2,109,000     2,370,000
Stockholders' Equity:
  Preferred stock, $.001 par value; authorized 1,500,000
     shares; none issued or outstanding.....................           --            --
  Common stock, $.001 par value; authorized 18,500,000
     shares; issued and outstanding 5,450,000 shares in 1998
     and 2,600,00 shares in 1997............................        5,000         2,000
  Additional paid-in capital................................   31,768,000     9,270,000
  Retained earnings.........................................      764,000       470,000
                                                              -----------   -----------
Total stockholders' equity..................................   32,537,000     9,742,000
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity..................  $40,969,000   $16,783,000
                                                              ===========   ===========

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

F-3

STAR BUFFET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

                                                   SUCCESSOR COMPANY                 PREDECESSOR COMPANY
                                       -----------------------------------   ---------------------------------
                                           FIFTY-TWO        TWENTY-EIGHT        THIRTY          FIFTY-TWO
                                             WEEKS             WEEKS             WEEKS             WEEKS
                                             ENDED             ENDED             ENDED             ENDED
                                       JANUARY 26, 1998   JANUARY 27, 1997    JULY 15, 1996  DECEMBER 18, 1995
                                       ----------------   ----------------   --------------  -----------------
Total revenues.......................    $54,659,000        $23,632,000       $23,207,000       $36,741,000
                                         -----------        -----------       -----------       -----------
Costs and expenses
  Food costs.........................     18,024,000          8,371,000         8,569,000        13,769,000
  Labor costs........................     17,301,000          7,565,000         6,810,000        10,878,000
  Occupancy and other expenses.......     10,829,000          4,732,000         5,030,000         8,954,000
  General and administrative
     expenses........................      2,291,000          1,062,000         1,193,000         1,666,000
  Depreciation and amortization......      2,109,000            988,000           914,000         1,232,000
                                         -----------        -----------       -----------       -----------
Total costs and expenses.............     50,554,000         22,718,000        22,516,000        36,499,000
                                         -----------        -----------       -----------       -----------
Income from operations...............      4,105,000            914,000           691,000           242,000
Interest expense.....................       (200,000)          (106,000)         (145,000)         (192,000)
Interest income......................        321,000                 --                --                --
Other income.........................        272,000                 --                --                --
                                         -----------        -----------       -----------       -----------
Income before income taxes...........      4,498,000            808,000           546,000            50,000
Income tax expense...................      1,799,000            338,000           216,000            22,000
                                         -----------        -----------       -----------       -----------
Net income...........................    $ 2,699,000        $   470,000       $   330,000       $    28,000
                                         ===========        ===========       ===========       ===========
Net income per common
  share -- basic.....................    $      0.77        $      0.18
                                         ===========        ===========
Weighted average shares outstanding--
  basic..............................      3,515,000          2,600,000
                                         -----------        -----------
Net income per common
  share -- diluted...................    $      0.76        $      0.18
                                         ===========        ===========
Weighted average shares outstanding -
  diluted............................      3,528,000          2,600,000
                                         -----------        -----------

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

F-4

STAR BUFFET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

                                         COMMON STOCK      ADDITIONAL                       TOTAL
                                      ------------------     PAID-IN       RETAINED     SHAREHOLDERS'
                                       SHARES     AMOUNT     CAPITAL       EARNINGS        EQUITY
                                      ---------   ------   -----------   ------------   -------------
PREDECESSOR COMPANY
-----------------------
Beginning Balance
  December 19, 1994.................         10   $    0   $ 1,000,000   $    778,000   $  1,778,000
Net Income..........................         --       --            --         28,000         28,000
                                      ---------   ------   -----------   ------------   ------------
Beginning Balance
  December 18, 1995.................         10   $    0     1,000,000        806,000      1,806,000
Net Income..........................         --       --            --        330,000        330,000
                                      ---------   ------   -----------   ------------   ------------
Ending Balance
July 15, 1996.......................         10   $    0   $ 1,000,000   $  1,136,000   $  2,136,000
                                      =========   ======   ===========   ============   ============
=====================================================================================================
SUCCESSOR COMPANY
---------------------
Beginning Balance
  July 15, 1996.....................  2,600,000   $2,000   $ 8,025,000   $         --   $  8,027,000
Net Activity with Principal
  Stockholder.......................         --       --     1,245,000             --      1,245,000
Net Income..........................         --       --            --        470,000        470,000
                                      ---------   ------   -----------   ------------   ------------
Beginning Balance
  January 27, 1997..................  2,600,000    2,000     9,270,000        470,000      9,742,000
Net Activity with Principal
  Stockholder.......................         --       --    (8,272,000)    (2,405,000)   (10,677,000)
Issuance of common stock............  2,850,000    3,000    30,770,000             --     30,773,000
Net Income..........................         --       --            --      2,699,000      2,699,000
                                      ---------   ------   -----------   ------------   ------------
Ending Balance
  January 26, 1998..................  5,450,000   $5,000   $31,768,000   $    764,000   $ 32,537,000
                                      =========   ======   ===========   ============   ============

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

F-5

STAR BUFFET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

                                                    SUCCESSOR COMPANY           PREDECESSOR COMPANY
                                               ---------------------------   --------------------------
                                                              TWENTY-EIGHT                  FIFTY-TWO
                                                FIFTY-TWO        WEEKS         THIRTY         WEEKS
                                               WEEKS ENDED       ENDED       WEEKS ENDED      ENDED
                                               JANUARY 26,    JANUARY 27,     JULY 15,     DECEMBER 18,
                                                   1998           1997          1996           1995
                                               ------------   ------------   -----------   ------------
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income...................................  $  2,699,000    $  470,000     $330,000      $   28,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
  cash provided by operating activities:
     Depreciation and amortization...........     2,109,000       988,000      914,000       1,232,000
     Provision for losses on other assets....        75,000            --           --         100,000
     Non-cash investment income..............       (78,000)           --           --              --
     Change in operating assets and
       liabilities:
       Receivables...........................       207,000      (114,000)      21,000         (22,000)
       Inventories...........................      (109,000)       (5,000)      39,000         (48,000)
       Prepaid expenses......................      (154,000)      178,000     (202,000)        138,000
       Deposits..............................       (24,000)           --           --              --
       Deferred taxes........................      (124,000)      100,000      (78,000)       (136,000)
       Accounts payable-trade................       (14,000)      273,000     (280,000)        183,000
       Other accrued liabilities.............     1,377,000        27,000       72,000         123,000
                                               ------------    ----------     --------      ----------
Net cash provided by operating activities....  $  5,964,000    $1,917,000     $816,000      $1,598,000
Cash flows used in investing activities:
     Loan to JJ North's: note and line of
       credit................................    (3,400,000)           --           --              --
     Deposits on future acquisitions.........    (1,936,000)           --           --              --
     Acquisition of six JJ North's
       restaurants net of cash acquired......    (3,590,000)           --           --              --
     Acquisition of property, buildings and
       equipment.............................    (1,972,000)     (103,000)     (68,000)     (3,527,000)
     Deferred organization and franchise
       costs.................................       (67,000)           --           --        (125,000)
     Sale (Purchase) of Short Term
       Investments...........................       180,000      (180,000)          --              --
                                               ------------    ----------     --------      ----------
Net cash used in investing activities........   (10,785,000)     (283,000)     (68,000)     (3,652,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
     Proceeds from issuance of common
       stock.................................    30,773,000            --           --              --
     Net activity with principle
       shareholder...........................   (10,677,000)   (1,245,000)    (546,000)      1,998,000
     Principal payment on capital leases.....      (241,000)     (245,000)    (110,000)        (46,000)
                                               ------------    ----------     --------      ----------
     Net cash provided by (used in) by
       financing activities..................    19,855,000    (1,490,000)    (656,000)      1,952,000
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents....    15,034,000       144,000       92,000        (102,000)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of
  period.....................................       353,000       209,000      117,000         219,000
                                               ------------    ----------     --------      ----------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period...  $ 15,387,000    $  353,000     $209,000      $  117,000
                                               ============    ==========     ========      ==========

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

F-6

STAR BUFFET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1 -- SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

A summary of certain significant accounting policies not disclosed elsewhere in the footnotes to the consolidated financial statements is set forth below.

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Successor Company include the accounts for Star Buffet, Inc., together with its direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries Summit Family Restaurants Inc. ("Summit"), HTB Restaurants, Inc. ("HTB"), Northstar Buffet, Inc. ("NSBI") and Star Buffet Management, Inc. ("SBMI") (collectively the "Company"). Certain reclassifications have been made to the fiscal 1997 consolidated financial statements to conform to the fiscal 1998 presentation.

ORGANIZATION AND NATURE OF OPERATIONS

The Successor Company was formed by CKE Restaurants, Inc. ("CKE") in July 1997 in connection with the reorganization of CKE's buffet-style restaurant business. Pursuant to a contribution agreement among the Company and CKE and certain of their respective subsidiaries, CKE transferred to Summit the net assets of its two Casa Bonita Mexican theme restaurants (which were acquired by CKE on October 1, 1996), and Summit transferred substantially all of its assets and liabilities (primarily those relating to the JB's Restaurant system and Galaxy Diner restaurants, but excluding 16 HomeTown Buffet restaurants operated by HTB) to a newly formed subsidiary of CKE. Summit was acquired by CKE on July 15, 1996. Then, CKE contributed the outstanding shares of Summit to the Company in exchange for 2,600,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock. All of the parties to the foregoing transactions (the "Formation Transactions") were, upon completion thereof, direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of CKE, and such Formation Transactions were accounted for as a reorganization among companies under common control. Accordingly, the Successor Period presents results of operations for the period commencing on July 15, 1996 (the date of CKE's acquisition of Summit), and include results of operations of the two Casa Bonita Mexican theme restaurants only from October 1, 1996 (the date of acquisition by CKE) and the results of operations of seven JJ North's Grand Buffet Restaurants operated by the Company from September 30, 1997 (the date of acquisition by the Company.

The operating results for the fifty-two week period ended January 26, 1998, include 52 weeks of operations for the Company's 16 franchised HomeTown Buffet restaurants, 52 weeks of operations for the Company's two Casa Bonita restaurants and 17 weeks of operations for the seven JJ North's Grand Buffet restaurants operated by the Company. The operations for the 28 week period ended January 27, 1997, include 28 weeks of operations for the Company's 16 franchised HomeTown Buffet restaurants, and 17 weeks of operations for the Company's two Casa Bonita restaurants, but do not include the operations for JJ North's Grand Buffet restaurants.

The Predecessor Company, HTB Restaurants, Inc., has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of Summit Family Restaurants Inc. ("Summit") since October 9, 1991. The Predecessor Company operated 16 buffet style restaurants in five western states as a franchisee of HomeTown Buffet, Inc. and utilized a 52/53-week fiscal year which ends in December. The fiscal year ended December 18, 1995 contained 52 weeks. The period ended July 15, 1996 contained 30 weeks.

On October 31, 1997, the Company entered into a strategic alliance (the "Alliance") with Stacey's Buffet, Inc. ("Stacey's") whereby, among other things, the Company agreed to provide certain services for 23 Stacey's restaurants and make loans to Stacey's from time to time up to an aggregate principal amount of $4,500,000. On February 13, 1998, the Company acquired three Stacey's restaurants, and the Company and Stacey's mutually agreed to terminate the Alliance, including cancellation of any future obligations of the

F-7

Company to make loans to Stacey's. The Company paid the purchase price for the three restaurants by the cancellation of Stacey's outstanding indebtedness to the Company which was incurred as part of the Alliance.

FISCAL YEAR

The Company utilizes a 52/53 week fiscal year which ends on the last Monday in January. The first quarter of each year contains 16 weeks while the other three quarters each contain 12 weeks.

CASH EQUIVALENTS

For purposes of reporting cash flows, highly liquid investments purchased with original maturities of three months or less are considered cash equivalents. The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for these instruments approximate their fair value.

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS

Short-term investments (consisting primarily of certificates of deposits, with original maturities of greater than three months) are held-to-maturity securities and, accordingly, have been stated at cost.

INVENTORIES

Inventories consist of food, beverages and restaurant supplies and are valued at cost, determined by the first-in, first-out method.

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

Property and equipment and real property under capitalized leases are carried at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization are provided using the straight-line method over the following useful lives: buildings and leasehold improvements -- lesser of lease life or 20 years; furniture, fixtures and equipment -- five to eight years; capitalized leases -- lesser of lease life or 20 years. Lease renewal option periods are included in determining leasehold improvement useful lives when, in management's opinion, such renewal options will be exercised.

Repairs and maintenance are charged to operations as incurred. Remodeling costs are generally capitalized.

INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Franchise fees are amortized using the straight-line method over the remaining terms of the franchise agreements, which range from nine to 17 years. Lease acquisition costs are amortized using the straight-line method over the respective lease terms. Goodwill is amortized using the straight-line method over 40 years.

Accumulated amortization of these intangible assets totaled $127,000 at January 26, 1998 and $128,000 at January 27, 1997.

PRE-OPENING COSTS

Pre-opening costs, which represent expenses incurred for hiring and training personnel relating to new restaurants and expenses for promotion of new store openings, are capitalized and amortized over the restaurant's first year of operation.

FRANCHISE EXPENSES

Royalty costs and all other franchise costs are charged to operations as incurred.

F-8

GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

General and administrative expenses include certain expenses directly related to the Company and other corporate overhead. Allocations of expenses are made by Summit to HTB and by CKE to the Company after September 22, 1997 for certain corporate services and overhead incurred by the Company. Total corporate allocations included in general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of earnings amounted to approximately $437,000, $252,000, $951,000 and $808,000 for the periods ended January 26, 1998, January 27, 1997, July 14, 1996 and December 18, 1995, respectively. These allocations were based on, among other things, percentage of revenues, number of stores, number of employees or the amount of capital expenditures in relation to the total of the respective amounts of Summit on a combined basis. Included in the allocation for the period ended January 27, 1997, is $15,000 of general and administrative expenses relating to the two Casa Bonita restaurants. Allocations are made on a basis that management of the Company believes to be reasonable; however, such allocations are not necessarily indicative of the expenses which might have been incurred by the Company had they operated on a stand-alone basis.

INCOME TAXES

The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method. Under this method, income tax assets and liabilities are recognized using enacted tax rates for the expected future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. A change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

ADVERTISING EXPENSES

Advertising costs are charged to operations as incurred.

USE OF ESTIMATES

Management of the Company has made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities to prepare these consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

EARNINGS PER SHARE

The Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128 "Earnings per Share" ("SFAS 128") in fiscal 1998. SFAS 128 requires the presentation of "basic" earnings per share which represents net earnings divided by the weighted average shares outstanding excluding all common stock equivalents. Dual presentation of "diluted" earnings per share reflecting the dilutive effect of all common stock equivalents is also required.

NOTE 2 -- INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING

On September 30, 1997, the Company completed an initial public offering (the "IPO") of 3,000,000 shares of its Common Stock at an IPO price of $12.00 per share. Of the 3,000,000 share offering, 2,400,000 shares were sold by the Company and 600,000 shares were sold by CKE. On October 7, 1997, the underwriters exercised their over-allotment option and acquired an additional 450,000 shares of Common Stock. The IPO generated total net proceeds to the Company of $30.8 million after commissions and offering expenses. The Company has used a portion of the proceeds to pay a dividend to CKE and to repay indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of restaurants. The remaining proceeds are being used for working capital and general corporate purposes.

F-9

USE OF PROCEEDS

Of the net proceeds received by the Company from the IPO, the Company made payments to CKE totaling $10.7 million, which included a dividend of $9.3 million. The nature of these payments was in effect to reimburse CKE for its equity in HomeTown Buffet and Casa Bonita at the date of the IPO. As a result of these payments, the stockholders' equity section of the Company at January 26, 1998, reflects the earnings of the Company since the date of the IPO and the net proceeds from the IPO.

NOTE 3 -- NORTH'S ACQUISITION

Concurrent with the Initial Public Offering, the Company acquired six JJ North's Grand Buffet Restaurants from North's Restaurants, Inc., ("North's"), and completed a management agreement for a seventh restaurant. The total cash consideration paid to North's was approximately $4.5 million which generated $1.3 million of goodwill. The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase. In connection with the North's acquisition, the Company has provided a $3.0 million term loan and a $750,000 line of credit to North's. The term loan and line of credit are secured by North's remaining restaurants and bear interest at 8.0%.

Selected unaudited proforma combined results of operations for the fifty-two week period ended January 26, 1998 and the twenty-eight weeks ended January 27, 1997, as if the acquisition occurred on July 16, 1996, using actual restaurant-level margins and general and administrative expenses prior to the acquisition are presented as follows:

                                                       FIFTY-TWO
                                                         WEEKS            TWENTY-EIGHT
                                                         ENDED            WEEKS ENDED
                                                      JANUARY 26,         JANUARY 27,
                                                         1998                 1997
                                                      -----------         ------------
Total revenues................................        $60,866,000         $26,249,000
Net income....................................        $ 2,452,000         $   467,000
Net income per common share -- basic..........        $       .70         $       .18
Net income per common share -- diluted........        $       .70         $       .18

NOTE 4 -- NOTES RECEIVABLE Notes receivable at January 26, 1998 consists of the
following:

Note receivable from JJ North's.............................  $3,078,000
Line of credit due from JJ North's..........................     400,000
                                                              ----------
                                                               3,478,000
  Less current portion......................................     243,000
                                                              ----------
                                                              $3,235,000
                                                              ==========

The $3.0 million note receivable stipulates that interest accruing on the loan will be added to the note balance for the first six months. Interest on the aggregate balance will then be payable monthly for the next six months. Beginning November 1, 1999, principal and interest payments will be due monthly for five years until the loan is fully repaid in October 2003.

The interest on the line of credit is payable monthly for the first six months with principal and interest payments due monthly thereafter until the line is repaid by February 2000.

F-10

NOTE 5 -- PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT AND REAL PROPERTY UNDER CAPITALIZED LEASES

The components of property and equipment and real property under capitalized leases are as follows:

                                                              JANUARY 26,   JANUARY 27,
                                                                 1998          1997
                                                              -----------   -----------
Property and equipment:
  Buildings and leasehold improvements......................  $12,535,000   $10,255,000
  Furniture, fixtures and equipment.........................    7,648,000     3,012,000
                                                              -----------   -----------
                                                               20,183,000    13,267,000
  Less accumulated depreciation and amortization............   (5,106,000)     (837,000)
                                                              -----------   -----------
                                                              $15,077,000   $12,430,000
                                                              ===========   ===========
Real property and equipment under capitalized leases........  $ 3,031,000   $ 2,547,000
  Less accumulated amortization.............................     (744,000)     (151,000)
                                                              -----------   -----------
                                                              $ 2,287,000   $ 2,396,000
                                                              ===========   ===========

NOTE 6 -- LEASES

The Company occupies certain restaurants under long-term leases expiring at various dates through 2014. Most restaurant leases have renewal options for terms of 5 to 20 years, and substantially all require the payment of real estate taxes and insurance. Certain leases require the rent to be the greater of a stipulated minimum rent or a specified percentage of sales.

Minimum lease payments for all leases and the present value of net minimum lease payments for capital leases as of January 26, 1998 (Successor Company) are as follows:

                     FISCAL YEAR                        CAPITAL      OPERATING
                     -----------                       ----------   -----------
1999.................................................  $  439,000   $ 3,125,000
2000.................................................     405,000     2,752,000
2001.................................................     235,000     2,614,000
2002.................................................     235,000     2,546,000
2003.................................................     235,000     2,573,000
Thereafter...........................................   2,282,000    19,217,000
                                                       ----------   -----------
          Total minimum lease payments:..............   3,831,000   $32,827,000
                                                       ==========   ===========
Less amount representing interest:...................   1,463,000
                                                       ----------
Present value of minimum lease payments:.............   2,368,000
Less current portion.................................     259,000
                                                       ----------
Capital lease obligation excluding current portion...  $2,109,000
                                                       ==========

F-11

Aggregate rents under noncancelable operating leases during fiscal 1998 and 1997 are as follows:

                                                    SUCCESSOR COMPANY           PREDECESSOR COMPANY
                                                --------------------------   --------------------------
                                                              TWENTY-EIGHT                  FIFTY-TWO
                                                 FIFTY-TWO       WEEKS         THIRTY         WEEKS
                                                WEEKS ENDED      ENDED       WEEKS ENDED      ENDED
                                                JANUARY 26,   JANUARY 27,     JULY 15,     DECEMBER 18,
                                                   1998           1997          1996           1995
                                                -----------   ------------   -----------   ------------
Minimum rentals...............................  $2,967,000     $  978,000    $1,617,000     $3,316,000
Contingent rentals............................     114,000         41,000        28,000         46,000
                                                ----------     ----------    ----------     ----------
                                                $3,081,000     $1,019,000    $1,645,000     $3,362,000
                                                ==========     ==========    ==========     ==========

NOTE 7 -- INCOME TAXES

Income tax expense (benefit) is comprised of the following:

                                                SUCCESSOR COMPANY         PREDECESSOR COMPANY
                                            -------------------------   -----------------------
                                            JANUARY 26,   JANUARY 27,   JULY 15,   DECEMBER 18,
                                               1998          1997         1996         1995
                                            -----------   -----------   --------   ------------
Current:
  Federal.................................  $1,643,000     $196,000     $226,000     $132,000
  State...................................     440,000       35,000       68,000       26,000
                                            ----------     --------     --------     --------
                                             2,083,000      231,000      294,000      158,000
Deferred:
  Federal.................................    (238,000)      81,000      (55,000)    (115,000)
  State...................................     (46,000)      26,000      (23,000)     (21,000)
                                            ----------     --------     --------     --------
                                              (284,000)     107,000      (78,000)    (136,000)
                                            ----------     --------     --------     --------
                                            $1,799,000     $338,000     $216,000     $ 22,000
                                            ==========     ========     ========     ========

A reconciliation of income tax expense at the federal statutory rate to the Company's provision for taxes on income is as follows:

                                                        SUCCESSOR COMPANY         PREDECESSOR COMPANY
                                                    -------------------------   -----------------------
                                                    JANUARY 26,   JANUARY 27,   JULY 15,   DECEMBER 18,
                                                       1998          1997         1996         1995
                                                    -----------   -----------   --------   ------------
Income taxes at statutory rate....................  $1,529,000     $274,000     $186,000     $17,000
State income taxes................................     273,000       47,000       29,000       3,000
Other.............................................     (11,000)      17,000        1,000       2,000
Increase in reserve...............................       8,000           --           --          --
                                                    ----------     --------     --------     -------
                                                    $1,799,000     $338,000     $216,000     $22,000
                                                    ==========     ========     ========     =======

F-12

Temporary differences give rise to a significant amount of deferred tax assets and liabilities as set forth below:

                                                              JANUARY 26,   JANUARY 27,
                                                                 1998          1997
                                                              -----------   -----------
Deferred tax assets:
  Leases....................................................  $  922,000    $  971,000
  Insurance reserves........................................     113,000            --
  Accrued Vacation..........................................      70,000        45,000
  State Taxes...............................................      43,000        28,000
  Litigation Reserve........................................          --        25,000
                                                              ----------    ----------
  Less valuation allowance..................................      (8,000)           --
                                                              ----------    ----------
          Total deferred tax assets.........................   1,140,000     1,069,000
                                                              ----------    ----------
Deferred tax liabilities:
  Depreciation..............................................     799,000       876,000
  Other.....................................................      24,000            --
                                                              ----------    ----------
          Total deferred tax liabilities....................     823,000       876,000
                                                              ----------    ----------
Net deferred tax assets.....................................  $  317,000    $  193,000
                                                              ==========    ==========

While there can be no assurance that the Company will generate any earnings or any specific level of earnings in the future years, management believes it is more likely than not that the Company will realize the majority of the benefit of the existing net deferred tax assets at January 26, 1998 based on the Company's current and future pre-tax earnings.

NOTE 8 -- DEPOSITS AND OTHER

Deposits and other consists of the following:

                                                              JANUARY 26,   JANUARY 27,
                                                                 1998          1997
                                                              -----------   -----------
Deposit on the acquisition of three Stacey's restaurants....  $1,006,000     $     --
Deposit on acquisition of JJ North's Olympia restaurant.....     929,000           --
Deferred taxes, non current.................................     207,000           --
Miscellaneous deposits......................................      25,000      375,000
                                                              ----------     --------
                                                              $2,167,000     $375,000
                                                              ==========     ========

NOTE 9 -- STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY

The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 18,500,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 1,500,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share.

COMMON STOCK

Holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by the stockholders and do not have cumulative voting rights. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to the holders of outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, if any, at the time holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to assets of the Company remaining after payment of the Company's liabilities and the liquidation preference, if any, of any outstanding Preferred Stock. All

F-13

outstanding shares of Common Stock, are, and the shares of Common Stock offered by the Company hereby will be, when issued and paid for, fully paid and nonassessable. Holders of Common Stock have no preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of Common Stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of Preferred Stock which the Company may designate and issue in the future.

PREFERRED STOCK

The Board of Directors has the authority, without further vote or action by the stockholders, to provide for the issuance of up to 1,500,000 shares of Preferred Stock from time to time in one or more series with such designations, rights, preferences and privileges and limitations on the Board of Directors may determine, including the consideration received therefor. The Board of Directors also will have the authority to determine the number of shares comprising each series, dividend rates, redemption provisions, liquidation preferences, sinking fund provisions, conversion rights and voting rights without approval by the holders of Common Stock. Although it is not possible to state the effect that any issuance of Preferred Stock might have on the rights of holders of Common Stock, the issuance of Preferred Stock may have one or more of the following effects: (i) to restrict the payment of dividends on the Common Stock, (ii) to dilute the voting power and equity interests of holders of Common Stock, (iii) to prevent holders of Common Stock from participating in any distribution of the Company's assets upon liquidation until any liquidation preferences granted to holders of Preferred Stock are satisfied, or (iv) to require approval by the holders of Preferred Stock for certain matters such as amendments to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation or any reorganization, consolidation, merger or other similar transaction involving the Company. As a result, the issuance of Preferred Stock may, under certain circumstances, have the effect of delaying, discouraging or preventing bids for the Common Stock at a premium over the market price thereof, or a change in control of the Company, and could have a material adverse effect on the market price for the Common Stock.

NOTE 10 -- EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

401(K) PLAN

Beginning in May 1998, the Company has a 401(k) plan available to certain employees who have attained age 21, work 30 hours or more per week, and have met certain minimum service requirements. The plan allows participants to allocate up to 15% of their annual compensation before taxes for investment in several investment alternatives.

1997 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

The Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Purchase Plan"), was adopted by the Board of Directors on January 15, 1998, covering an aggregate of 750,000 shares of Common Stock. The Purchase Plan, which is not intended to qualify as an "employee stock purchase plan" under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code, will be implemented by quarterly offerings with purchases coinciding with the Company's fiscal quarters commencing on the effective date of the Purchase Plan. The purpose of the Purchase Plan is to provide participants with incentives which will encourage them to acquire a proprietary interest in, and continue to provide services to, the Company. The Purchase Plan will be administered by the Board of Directors or a committee appointed by the Board of Directors.

Employees are eligible to participate if they (i) are employed on an hourly basis as a restaurant employee for at least 30 hours per week and if they have been employed by the Company since September 30, 1997 or for at least one year;
(ii) are employed on an hourly basis as a non-restaurant employee for at least 30 hours per week and have been so employed continuously during the preceding 90 days; or (iii) are exempt from the overtime and minimum wage requirements under federal and state laws and have been so employed by the Company continuously during the preceding 90 days. The Purchase Plan permits eligible employees to purchase Common Stock through payroll deductions, which range from 3% to 10% of the employee's Base Earnings as defined in the Purchase Plan. The price of stock purchased under the Purchase Plan shall be at the then current fair market value. Each participant who remains an employee of the Company for at least one

F-14

year after the end of a particular quarterly offering period shall receive, on the one-year anniversary date of the end of such offering period, a matching contribution from the Company totaling one-half of a participating Officer's or Director's contribution, and one-third of other participant's contributions. Employees may withdraw from the Purchase Plan, effective at the end of a quarterly offering period, by delivering a notice to the Company no later than the 15th day prior to the end of such quarterly offering period, and participation ends automatically on termination of employment. The Board of Directors may at any time amend or terminate the Purchase Plan, and upon such termination, each participant is entitled to receive the funds in such participant's account which have not been used to purchase Common Stock but shall not be entitled to any future matching contribution.

1997 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

The Company recently adopted the 1997 Stock Incentive Plan (the "1997 Plan"), which provides for the grant of options to purchase an aggregate of 750,000 shares of Common Stock. The 1997 Plan provides for the granting of "incentive stock options," within the meaning of section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and non-statutory options to directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company, except that incentive stock options may not be granted to non-employee directors or consultants. The purpose of the 1997 Plan is to provide participants with incentives which will encourage them to acquire a proprietary interest in, and continue to provide services to, the Company. The 1997 Plan is administered by the Board of Directors, which has sole discretion and authority, consistent with the provisions of the 1997 Plan, to determine which eligible participants will receive options, the time when options will be granted, the terms of options granted and the number of shares which will be subject to options granted under the 1997 Plan.

                                                              NUMBER OF SHARES
                                                              ----------------
Outstanding on January 27, 1997.............................            --
Options granted at IPO......................................       608,308
Canceled....................................................            --
Exercised...................................................            --
                                                                  --------
Outstanding on January 26, 1998.............................       608,308
                                                                  ========
Exercisable on January 26, 1998.............................       263,240
                                                                  ========
Exercise price..............................................      $  12.00
                                                                  ========
Weighted average remaining contractual life in years........          9.68
                                                                  ========

The Company applies the intrinsic value method under Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25 in accounting for its Plan and, accordingly, no compensation cost has been recognized for it's stock options in the financial statements. Had the Company determined compensation cost based on the fair value method under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation," ("SFAS 123") at the grant date for its stock options, the Company's net income would have been reduced to the pro forma amounts indicated below:

                                                              JANUARY 26,   JANUARY 27,
                                                                 1998          1997
                                                              -----------   -----------
Net Income as reported......................................  $2,699,000    $   470,000
Earnings per share -- basic as reported.....................  $      .77    $       .18
Earnings per share -- diluted as reported...................  $      .76    $       .18
Pro forma net income........................................  $2,285,000    $   470,000
Earnings per share-basic as reported........................  $      .65    $       .18
Earnings per share-diluted as reported......................  $      .65    $       .18

F-15

For purposes of the preceding pro forma disclosures required by SFAS 123 the fair value of each stock option has been estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions: no projected annual dividends, expected volatility of 15%, a risk free interest rate of 5.83% and an expected life of three years.

Since the pro forma compensation expense for stock-based compensation plans is recognized over a three year vesting period, the foregoing pro forma reductions in the Company's net income are not representative of anticipated amounts in future years.

The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options that do not have vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. In addition, option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility. Because the Company's stock options have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options and because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the value of an estimate, in management's opinion, the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of its employee stock options.

NOTE 11 -- SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION

                                                   SUCCESSOR PERIOD              PREDECESSOR PERIOD
                                           ---------------------------------   -----------------------
                                           JANUARY 26,       JANUARY 27,       JULY 15,   DECEMBER 18,
                                              1998              1997             1996         1995
                                           -----------   -------------------   --------   ------------
Cash paid for income taxes...............  $1,020,000          --                    --           --
Cash paid for interest...................          --          --              $145,000     $192,000
Non-cash investing and financing
  activities are as follows:
  Transfer of current assets and current
     liabilities to primary
     stockholder.........................  $  335,000          --                    --           --
  Use of deposit to buy out operating
     equipment leases....................     375,000          --                    --           --

NOTE 12 -- COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The Company is engaged in ordinary and routine litigation incidental to its business. Management does not anticipate that any resolution will require payments that will have a material effect on the Company's consolidated statement of operations or financial position or liquidity.

NOTE 13 -- SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On October 31, 1997, the Company entered into a strategic alliance (the "Alliance") with Stacey's Buffet, Inc. ("Stacey's") whereby, among other things, the Company agreed to provide certain services for 23 Stacey's restaurants and make loans to Stacey's from time to time up to an aggregate principal amount of $4,500,000. On February 13, 1998, the Company acquired three Stacey's restaurants, and the Company and Stacey's mutually agreed to terminate the Alliance, including cancellation of any future obligations of the Company to make loans to Stacey's. The Company paid the purchase price for the three restaurants by the cancellation of Stacey's outstanding indebtedness to the Company which was incurred as part of the Alliance.

On February 24, 1998, the Company acquired twelve JB's Restaurants from JB's Restaurants, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of CKE, for $4,265,000, subject to adjustment. At the time of acquisition, the Company prepaid royalty fees for one year in the amount of $485,000. The Company will operate the restaurants under franchise agreements with JB's Family Restaurants, Inc. until such time as they are converted to the Company's small-format buffet concept. The Company has completed one of the conversions and expects to complete additional conversions during fiscal 1999.

F-16

In addition, during February 1998, the Company, in three separate transactions, acquired three additional restaurants in the state of Florida. The purchase price for these restaurants, one of which is a fee property, was approximately $1.8 million. Two of the restaurants are operated as Maggie's Buffet restaurants and the third restaurant, which was formerly operated as a Stacey's Buffet restaurant prior to being closed in 1996, will be converted to one of the Company's buffet concepts and re-opened during fiscal 1999.

On April 1, 1998, the Company acquired two buffet restaurants located in Florida, which operate under the brand name of BuddyFreddys. The purchase price was $1.6 million, subject to adjustment, of which, $400,000 was paid in cash at closing and the remaining $1.2 million will be paid in equal monthly installments of $100,000 each beginning April 15, 1998 and continuing through March 15, 1999. In addition, the Company has loaned the seller $2.4 million. The loan has a term of one year, is secured by the real property of the purchased restaurants and bears interest at 8.5% for the first 90 days and 10.0% for the remainder of the term. It is anticipated that the Company will convert certain of its other restaurants in the Florida market to the BuddyFreddys concept.

F-17

EXHIBIT INDEX

  EXHIBIT
    NO.                              DESCRIPTION
  -------                            -----------
 3.1         Certificate of Incorporation*
 3.2         Bylaws, as amended on September 22, 1997
 4.1         Form of Common Stock Certificate**
10.1         Star Buffet, Inc. 1997 Stock Incentive Plan (the "1997
             Plan")**
10.2         Form of Stock Option Agreement for the 1997 Plan**
10.3         Form of Indemnification Agreement**
10.4         Management Services Agreement with CKE**
10.5         Form Of Franchise Agreement with HomeTown Buffet, Inc.**
10.6         Asset Purchase Agreement with North's Restaurants, Inc.
             dated July 24, 1997**
10.6.1       Amendment No. 1 to Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of
             September 30, 1997 (incorporated by reference to the
             Company's filing on Form 8-K on October 17, 1997)
10.6.2       Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of September
             30, 1997 between the Company and North's Restaurants, Inc.
             (incorporated by reference to the Company's filing on Form
             8-K on October 17, 1997)
10.7         Form of Credit Agreement with Stacey's Buffet, Inc.*
10.8         Form of Contribution Agreement among CKE Restaurants, Inc.,
             Summit Family Restaurants Inc. and the Company*
10.9         Form of Bill of Sale and Assumption Agreement between Summit
             Family Restaurants Inc. and Taco Bueno Restaurants, Inc.
             (formerly known as Casa Bonita Incorporated)*
10.11        Form of Bill of Sale and Assumption Agreement between Summit
             Family Restaurants Inc. and JB's Restaurants, Inc.*
10.12        License Agreement with CKE
10.13        Settlement Agreement with HomeTown Buffet, Inc.
11.0         Computation of Earnings Per Share Income
21.1         List of Subsidiaries*
23.4         Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
27.1         Financial Data Schedules (included only with electronic
             filing)


* Previously filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Amendment No. 1 (Registration No. 333- 32249).

** Previously filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Amendment No. 2 (Registration No. 333- 32249).

E-1

EXHIBIT 3.2

BYLAWS

OF

STAR BUFFET, INC.,
A DELAWARE CORPORATION

AS AMENDED
ON
SEPTEMBER 22, 1997


AMENDED BYLAWS OF
STAR BUFFET, INC.
A DELAWARE CORPORATION

AMENDED ON SEPTEMBER 22, 1997
BY
WRITTEN CONSENT OF
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF
STAR BUFFET, INC.

ARTICLE III

SECTION 2 Subject to any limitations in the Certificate of Incorporation, the authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall be eight (8) until changed by an amendment to this Bylaw adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                                Page
ARTICLE I....................................................................... 1
        SECTION 1.  REGISTERED OFFICE............................................1
        SECTION 2.  OTHER OFFICES................................................1
        SECTION 3.  BOOKS........................................................1
ARTICLE II.......................................................................1
        SECTION 1.  PLACE OF MEETINGS............................................1
        SECTION 2.  ANNUAL MEETINGS..............................................1
        SECTION 3.  SPECIAL MEETINGS.............................................1
        SECTION 4.  NOTIFICATION OF BUSINESS TO BE TRANSACTED AT MEETING.........2
        SECTION 5.  NOTICE; WAIVER OF NOTICE.....................................2
        SECTION 6.  QUORUM; ADJOURNMENT..........................................2
        SECTION 7.  VOTING.......................................................2
        SECTION 8.  STOCKHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING......2
        SECTION 9.  LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE........................3
        SECTION 10.  STOCK LEDGER................................................3
        SECTION 11.  INSPECTORS OF ELECTION......................................3
        SECTION 12.  ORGANIZATION................................................3
        SECTION 13.  ORDER OF BUSINESS...........................................3
ARTICLE III......................................................................4
        SECTION 1.  POWERS.......................................................4
        SECTION 2.  NUMBER AND ELECTION OF DIRECTORS.............................4
        SECTION 3.  VACANCIES....................................................4
        SECTION 4.  TIME AND PLACE OF MEETINGS...................................4
        SECTION 5.  ANNUAL MEETING...............................................4
        SECTION 6.  REGULAR MEETINGS.............................................5
        SECTION 7.  SPECIAL MEETINGS.............................................5
        SECTION 8.  QUORUM; VOTE REQUIRED FOR ACTION; ADJOURNMENT................5
        SECTION 9.  ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT....................................5
        SECTION 10.  TELEPHONE MEETINGS..........................................5
        SECTION 11.  COMMITTEES..................................................6
        SECTION 12.  COMPENSATION................................................6
        SECTION 13.  INTERESTED DIRECTORS........................................6
ARTICLE IV.......................................................................7
        SECTION 1.  OFFICERS.....................................................7
        SECTION 2.  APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS......................................7
        SECTION 3.  SUBORDINATE OFFICERS.........................................7
        SECTION 4.  REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS..........................7
        SECTION 5.  VACANCIES IN OFFICES.........................................7
        SECTION 6.  CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD........................................7
        SECTION 7.  VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD...................................7
        SECTION 8.  CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER......................................8
        SECTION 9.  PRESIDENT....................................................8
        SECTION 10.  VICE PRESIDENT..............................................8
        SECTION 11.  SECRETARY...................................................8
        SECTION 12.  CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.....................................8


ARTICLE V...................................................................... 9
        SECTION 1.  FORM OF CERTIFICATES........................................9
        SECTION 2.  SIGNATURES..................................................9
        SECTION 3.  LOST CERTIFICATES...........................................9
        SECTION 4.  TRANSFERS...................................................9
        SECTION 5.  RECORD HOLDERS..............................................9
ARTICLE VI......................................................................10
        SECTION 1.  RIGHT TO INDEMNIFICATION....................................10
        SECTION 2.  RIGHT OF INDEMNITEE TO BRING SUIT...........................10
        SECTION 3.  NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS...................................11
        SECTION 4.  INSURANCE...................................................11
        SECTION 5.  INDEMNIFICATION OF EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS OF THE CORPORATION...11
        SECTION 6.  INDEMNIFICATION CONTRACTS...................................11
        SECTION 7.  EFFECT OF AMENDMENT.........................................11
ARTICLE VII    .................................................................12
        SECTION 1.  DIVIDENDS...................................................12
        SECTION 2.  DISBURSEMENTS...............................................12
        SECTION 3.  FISCAL YEAR.................................................12
        SECTION 4.  CORPORATE SEAL..............................................12
        SECTION 5.  RECORD DATE.................................................12
        SECTION 6.  VOTING OF STOCK OWNED BY THE CORPORATION....................12
        SECTION 7.  CONSTRUCTION AND DEFINITIONS................................12
        SECTION 8.  AMENDMENTS..................................................12


BYLAWS
OF
JB'S RESTAURANTS, INC.
a Delaware corporation

ARTICLE I
OFFICES

SECTION 1. REGISTERED OFFICE. The registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware shall be in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle.

SECTION 2. OTHER OFFICES. The Corporation may also have offices at such other places both within and without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

SECTION 3. BOOKS. The books of the Corporation may be kept within or without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

SECTION 1. PLACE OF MEETINGS. All meetings of stockholders for the election of directors shall be held at such place either within or without the State of Delaware as may be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors, or at such other place either within or without the State of Delaware as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting. Meetings of stockholders for any other purpose may be held at such time and place, within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice thereof.

SECTION 2. ANNUAL MEETINGS. Annual meetings of stockholders shall be held at a time and date designated by the Board of Directors for the purpose of electing directors and transacting such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.

SECTION 3. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation, may be called by the President and shall be called by the President or Secretary at the request in writing of a majority of the Board of Directors, or at the request in writing of a stockholder or stockholders owning stock of the Corporation possessing ten percent (10%) of the voting power possessed by all of the then outstanding capital stock of any class of the Corporation entitled to vote. Such request shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting.

SECTION 4. NOTIFICATION OF BUSINESS TO BE TRANSACTED AT MEETING. To be properly brought before a meeting, business must be (a) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (b) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (c) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting.

1

SECTION 5. NOTICE; WAIVER OF NOTICE. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a written notice of the meeting shall be given which shall state the place, date and hour of the meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Unless otherwise required by law, such notice shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at his address as it appears on the records of the Corporation. A written waiver of any such notice signed by the person entitled thereto, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

SECTION 6. QUORUM; ADJOURNMENT. Except as otherwise required by law, or provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the holders of a majority of the capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of the stockholders. A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum, if any action taken is approved by at least a majority of the required quorum to conduct that meeting. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting of the time and place of the adjourned meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting.

SECTION 7. VOTING. Except as otherwise required by law, or provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any question brought before any meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present shall be decided by the vote of the holders of a majority of the stock represented and entitled to vote thereat. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder represented at a meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to cast one vote for each share of the capital stock entitled to vote thereat held by such stockholder. Such votes may be cast in person or by proxy, but no proxy shall be voted on or after three (3) years from its date, unless such proxy provides for a longer period. Elections of directors need not be by ballot unless the Chairman of the meeting so directs or unless a stockholder demands election by ballot at the meeting and before the voting begins.

SECTION 8. STOCKHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders, may be taken without a meeting and without prior notice, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is signed by the holders of outstanding shares having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. All such consents shall be filed with the Secretary of the Corporation and shall be maintained in the

2

corporate records. Prompt notice of the taking of corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing.

SECTION 9. LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE. The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. The list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder of the Corporation who is present.

SECTION 10. STOCK LEDGER. The stock ledger of the Corporation shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger, the list required by Section 9 of this Article II or the books of the Corporation, or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

SECTION 11. INSPECTORS OF ELECTION. In advance of any meeting of stockholders, the Board of Directors may appoint one or more persons (who shall not be candidates for office) as inspectors of election to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof. If an inspector or inspectors are not so appointed, or if an appointed inspector fails to appear or fails or refuses to act at a meeting, the Chairman of any meeting of stockholders may, and on the request of any stockholder or his proxy shall, appoint an inspector or inspectors of election at the meeting. The duties of such inspector(s) shall include:
determining the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each; the shares represented at the meeting; the existence of a quorum; the authenticity, validity and effect of proxies; receiving votes, ballots or consents; hearing and determining all challenges and questions in any way arising in connection with the right to vote; counting and tabulating all votes or consents; determining the result; and such acts as may be proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all stockholders. In the event of any dispute between or among the inspectors, the determination of the majority of the inspectors shall be binding.

SECTION 12. ORGANIZATION. At each meeting of stockholders the Chairman of the Board of Directors, if one shall have been elected, (or in his absence or if one shall not have been elected, the President) shall act as Chairman of the meeting. The Secretary (or in his absence or inability to act, the person whom the Chairman of the meeting shall appoint secretary of the meeting) shall act as secretary of the meeting and keep the minutes thereof.

SECTION 13. ORDER OF BUSINESS. The order and manner of transacting business at all meetings of stockholders shall be determined by the Chairman of the meeting.

3

ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS

SECTION 1. POWERS. Except as otherwise required by law or provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.

SECTION 2. NUMBER AND ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. Subject to any limitations in the Certificate of Incorporation, the authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall be three (3) until changed by an amendment to this Bylaw adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors. Directors shall be elected at each annual meeting of stockholders to replace directors whose terms then expire, and each director elected shall hold office until his successor is duly elected and qualified, or until his earlier death, resignation or removal. Any director may resign at any time effective upon giving written notice to the Board of Directors, unless the notice specifies a later time for such resignation to become effective. Unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. If the resignation of a director is effective at a future time, the Board of Directors may elect a successor prior to such effective time to take office when such resignation becomes effective. Directors need not be stockholders.

SECTION 3. VACANCIES. Subject to the limitations in the Certificate of Incorporation, vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, removal or otherwise and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. Each director so selected shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of office of the former director which such director replaces and until his successor is duly elected and qualified, or until his earlier death, resignation or removal. No decrease in the authorized number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent directors.

SECTION 4. TIME AND PLACE OF MEETINGS. The Board of Director shall hold its meetings at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, and at such time as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 5. ANNUAL MEETING. The Board of Directors shall meet for the purpose of organization, the election of officers and the transaction of other business, as soon as practicable after each annual meeting of stockholders, on the same day and at the same place where such annual meeting shall be held. Notice of such meeting need not be given. In the event such annual meeting is not so held, the annual meeting of the Board of Directors may be held at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, on such date and at such time as shall be specified in a notice thereof given as hereinafter provided in
Section 7 of this Article III or in a waiver of notice thereof.

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SECTION 6. REGULAR MEETINGS. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such places within or without the State of Delaware at such date and time as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine and, if so determined by the Board of Directors, notices thereof need not be given.

SECTION 7. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Secretary or by any director. Notice of the date, time and place of special meetings shall be delivered personally or by telephone to each director or sent by first-class mail or telegram, charges prepaid, addressed to each director at the director's address as it is shown on the records of the Corporation. In case the notice is mailed, it shall be deposited in the United States mail at least four (4) days before the time of the holding of the meeting. In case the notice is delivered personally or by telephone or telegram, it shall be delivered personally or by telephone or to the telegraph company at least forty-eight (48) hours before the time of the holding of the meeting. The notice need not specify the purpose of the meeting. A written waiver of any such notice signed by the person entitled thereto, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

SECTION 8. QUORUM; VOTE REQUIRED FOR ACTION; ADJOURNMENT. Except as otherwise required by law, or provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of the Board of Directors and the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting, from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present. A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business, notwithstanding the withdrawal of directors, if any action taken is approved by at least a majority of the required quorum to conduct that meeting. When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place (whether or not a quorum is present), notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.

SECTION 9. ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all the members of the Board of Directors or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee.

SECTION 10. TELEPHONE MEETINGS. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, by conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section 10 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

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SECTION 11. COMMITTEES. The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed unanimously by the entire Board, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any such committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the event of absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, and in the absence of a designation by the Board of Directors of an alternate member to replace the absent or disqualified member, the committee member or members present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member. Any committee, to the extent allowed by law and as provided in the resolution establishing such committee, shall have and may exercise all the power and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to amending the Certificate of Incorporation, adopting an agreement of merger or consolidation, recommending to the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the Corporation's property and assets, recommending to the stockholders a dissolution of the Corporation or a revocation of a dissolution, or amending the Bylaws of the Corporation; and, unless the resolution or the Certificate of Incorporation expressly so provides, no such committee shall have the power or authority to declare a dividend or to authorize the issuance of stock. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report to the Board of Directors when required.

SECTION 12. COMPENSATION. The directors may be paid such compensation for their services as the Board of Directors shall from time to time determine.

SECTION 13. INTERESTED DIRECTORS. No contract or transaction between the Corporation and one or more of its directors or officers, or between the Corporation and any other corporation, partnership, association, or other organization in which one or more of its directors or officers are directors or officers, or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of the Board of Directors or the committee thereof which authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because his of their votes are counted for such purpose if: (i) the material facts as to his or their relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board of Directors or the committee, and the Board of Directors or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative votes of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors be less than a quorum; or (ii) the material facts as to his or their relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders; or (iii) the contract or transaction is fair as to the Corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified, by the Board of Directors, a committee thereof, or the stockholders. Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board of Directors or of a committee which authorizes the contract or transaction.

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ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS

SECTION 1. OFFICERS. The officers of the Corporation shall be a President, a Secretary and a Chief Financial Officer. The Corporation may also have, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, a Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer, one or more Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Financial Officers and Treasurers, one or more Assistant Secretaries and such other officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 of this Article IV.

SECTION 2. APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS. The officers of the Corporation, except such officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of
Section 3 or Section 5 of this Article IV, shall be appointed by the Board of Directors, and each shall serve at the pleasure of the Board, subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment.

SECTION 3. SUBORDINATE OFFICERS. The Board of Directors may appoint, and may empower the Chief Executive Officer or President to appoint, such other officers as the business of the Corporation may require, each of whom shall hold office for such period, have such authority and perform such duties as are provided in the Bylaws or as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

SECTION 4. REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS. Subject to the rights of an officer under any contract, any officer may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors or, except in case of an officer chosen by the Board of Directors, by any officer upon whom such power of removal may be conferred by the Board of Directors.

Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Corporation. Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of that notice or at any later time specified in that notice; and, unless otherwise specified in that notice, the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation shall be without prejudice to the rights of the Corporation under any contract to which the officer is a party.

SECTION 5. VACANCIES IN OFFICES. A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or any other cause shall be filled in the manner prescribed in these Bylaws for regular appointments to that office.

SECTION 6. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. The Chairman of the Board, if such an officer is elected, shall, if present, preside at meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors. He shall, in addition, perform such other functions (if any) as may be prescribed by the Bylaws or the Board of Directors.

SECTION 7. VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. The Vice Chairman of the Board, if such an officer is elected, shall, in the absence or disability of the Chairman of the Board, perform all duties of the Chairman of the Board and when so acting shall have all the powers of and be subject to all of the restrictions upon the Chairman of the Board. The Vice Chairman of the Board shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Bylaws.

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SECTION 8. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. The Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, have general supervision, direction and control of the business and the officers of the Corporation. He shall exercise the duties usually vested in the chief executive officer of a corporation and perform such other powers and duties as may be assigned to him from time to time by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the Bylaws. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board and any Vice Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors.

SECTION 9. PRESIDENT. The President of the Corporation shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, if there be such an officer, have general powers and duties of management usually vested in the office of president of a corporation and shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Bylaws or the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, the President shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and stockholders.

SECTION 10. VICE PRESIDENT. In the absence or disability of the President, the Vice Presidents, if any, in order of their rank as fixed by the Board of Directors or, if not ranked, a Vice President designated by the Board of Directors, shall perform all the duties of the President, and when so acting shall have all the powers of, and subject to all the restrictions upon, the President. The Vice Presidents shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as from time to time may be prescribed for them respectively by the Board of Directors or the Bylaws, and the President, or the Chairman of the Board.

SECTION 11. SECRETARY. The Secretary shall keep or cause to be kept, at the principal executive office or such other place as the Board of Directors may direct, a book of minutes of all meetings and actions of Directors, committees of Directors, and stockholders, with the time and place of holding, whether regular or special, and, if special, how authorized, the notice given, the names of those present at Directors' meetings or committee meetings, the number of shares present or represented at stockholders' meetings, and a summary of the proceedings.

The Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, at the principal executive office or at the office of the Corporation's transfer agent or registrar, as determined by resolution of the Board of Directors, a share register, or a duplicate share register, showing the names of all stockholders and their addresses, the number and classes of shares held by each, the number and date of certificates issued for the same, and the number and date of cancellation of every certificate surrendered for cancellation.

The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors required by the Bylaws or by law to be given, and he shall keep or cause to be kept the seal of the Corporation if one be adopted, in safe custody, and shall have such powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or by the Bylaws.

SECTION 12. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. The Chief Financial Officer shall keep and maintain, or cause to be kept and maintained, adequate and correct books and records of accounts of the properties and business transactions of the Corporation. The Chief Financial Officer shall deposit all moneys and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the Corporation with such

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depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. He shall make such disbursements of the funds of the Corporation as are authorized and shall render from time to time an account of all of his transactions as Chief Financial Officer and of the financial condition of the Corporation. The Chief Financial Officer shall also have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Bylaws.

ARTICLE V
STOCK

SECTION 1. FORM OF CERTIFICATES. Every holder of stock in the Corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation (i) by the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, or the President or a Vice President and (ii) by the Chief Financial Officer or the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, certifying the number of shares owned by such stockholder in the Corporation.

SECTION 2. SIGNATURES. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

SECTION 3. LOST CERTIFICATES. The Corporation may issue a new certificate to be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Corporation, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed. The Corporation may, in the discretion of the Board of Directors and as a condition precedent to the issuance of such new certificate, require the owner of such lost, stolen, or destroyed certificate, or his legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond (or other security) sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against the Corporation (including any expense or liability) on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate.

SECTION 4. TRANSFERS. Stock of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by law and in these Bylaws or in any agreement with the stockholder making the transfer. Transfers of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation only by the person named in the certificate or by his attorney lawfully constituted in writing and upon the surrender of the certificate therefor, which shall be canceled before a new certificate shall be issued.

SECTION 5. RECORD HOLDERS. The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the record holder of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such record holder, and to hold liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the record holder of shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise required by law.

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ARTICLE VI
INDEMNIFICATION

SECTION 1. RIGHT TO INDEMNIFICATION. Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a "proceeding"), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans (hereinafter an "indemnitee"), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director or officer or in any other capacity while serving as a director or officer, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee's heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 2 of this Article VI with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. The right to indemnification conferred in this
Section shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an "advancement of expenses"); provided, however, that, if the Delaware General Corporation Law requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee, including without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Article VI or otherwise (hereinafter an "undertaking").

SECTION 2. RIGHT OF INDEMNITEE TO BRING SUIT. If a claim under Section 1 of this Article VI is not paid in full by the Corporation within forty-five (45) days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or part in any such suit or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) any suit by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its

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stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right hereunder, or by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified or to such advancement of expenses under this Article VI or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.

SECTION 3. NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS. The rights of indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article VI shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

SECTION 4. INSURANCE. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the Delaware General Corporation Law.

SECTION 5. INDEMNIFICATION OF EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS OF THE CORPORATION. The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses, to any employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article VI with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors or officers of the Corporation.

SECTION 6. INDEMNIFICATION CONTRACTS. The Board of Directors is authorized to enter into a contract with any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or any person serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including employee benefit plans, providing for indemnification rights equivalent to or, if the Board of Directors so determines, greater than, those provided for in this Article VI.

SECTION 7. EFFECT OF AMENDMENT. Any amendment, repeal or modification of any provision of this Article VI by the stockholders or the directors of the Corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director or officer of the Corporation existing at the time of such amendment, repeal or modification.

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ARTICLE VII
GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 1. DIVIDENDS. Subject to limitations contained in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors may declare and pay dividends upon the shares of capital stock of the Corporation, which dividends may be paid either in cash, securities of the Corporation or other property.

SECTION 2. DISBURSEMENTS. All checks or demands for money and notes of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such other person or persons as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

SECTION 3. FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.

SECTION 4. CORPORATE SEAL. The Corporation shall have a corporate seal in such form as shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 5. RECORD DATE. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any other action. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting. Stockholders on the record date are entitled to notice and to vote or to receive the dividend, distribution or allotment of rights or to exercise the rights, as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of any shares on the books of the Corporation after the record date, except as otherwise provided by agreement or by applicable law.

SECTION 6. VOTING OF STOCK OWNED BY THE CORPORATION. The Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President and any other officer of the Corporation authorized by the Board of Directors shall have power, on behalf of the Corporation, to attend, vote and grant proxies to be used at any meeting of stockholders of any corporation (except this Corporation) in which the Corporation may hold stock.

SECTION 7. CONSTRUCTION AND DEFINITIONS. Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of construction and definitions in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware shall govern the construction of these Bylaws.

SECTION 8. AMENDMENTS. Subject to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the Certificate of Incorporation and these Bylaws, the Board of Directors may by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors amend or repeal these Bylaws, or adopt other Bylaws as in their judgment may be advisable for the regulation of the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, these

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Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed, and new Bylaws may be adopted, at any annual meeting of the stockholders (or at any special meeting thereof duly called for that purpose) by a majority of the combined voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of all classes and series of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting as a single class, provided that, in the notice of any such special meeting, notice of such purpose shall be given.

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EXHIBIT 10.12

LICENSE AGREEMENT

This Agreement is effective as of September 22, 1997 by and between CARL KARCHER ENTERPRISES, INC., a California corporation, at 1200 N. Harbor Boulevard, Anaheim, California 92801 ("Licensor") and STAR BUFFET, INC., a Delaware corporation at 440 Lawndale Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah 84115 ("Licensee").

RECITALS

A. Licensor is the owner of the trademark STAR LOGO Design and variations thereof ("Star Trademarks"). Licensor is the owner of many United States and International Trademark Registrations for its Star Trademarks.

B. Licensee desires to license from Licensor the STAR BUFFET and STAR BUFFET and Design marks. Licensor has applied to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to register said STAR BUFFET and STAR BUFFET and Design marks, which are variations of Licensor's Star Trademarks, depicted on Exhibit "A" attached hereto and fully incorporated herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual provisions contained herein, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Licensor and Licensee agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS

1.1 LICENSED MARKS. The "Licensed Marks" are: (1) the words STAR BUFFET;
(2) the combination of a Star Logo Design, together with an illustration of a fork and knife; ("STAR BUFFET and Design"), and (3) the words NORTH STAR BUFFET, as specifically shown in Exhibit "A."

1.2 LICENSED TERRITORY. The "Licensed Territory" is the United States of America and Canada.

1.3 TERM. The "Term" of this Agreement shall be granted in perpetuity from the date of this Agreement; however, Licensor may terminate this License
(as defined in Article 2 below) for any reason or for no reason upon thirty (30) days written notice to Licensee.

ARTICLE 2
GRANT OF LICENSE

2.1 LICENSE. Subject to Licensee's performance of it obligations under this Agreement, Licensor grants to Licensee a personal, non-transferable, indivisible, non-exclusive license ("License"), without the right to sub-license for the Term, to use the


Licensed Marks in connection with its Tradename and restaurant services and food items sold in the restaurants ("Licensed Use").

Notwithstanding the above, the NORTH STAR BUFFET mark may be sublicensed from Star Buffet, Inc., a Delaware corporation, to North Star Buffet, Inc., a _____________ corporation, for as long as (a) North Star Buffet, Inc. remains a wholly-owned subsidiary of Star Buffet, Inc., and (b) North Star Buffet, Inc. agrees to abide by the terms of this Agreement.

2.2 RESTRICTIONS. Licensee agrees that it shall not use the Licensed Marks or any similar marks in connection with any goods or services not set forth in the Licensed Use. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, all rights not specifically granted in this Agreement to Licensee shall be reserved and remain always with Licensor.

ARTICLE 3
QUALITY CONTROL

3.1 MODIFICATIONS. Licensee agrees that it will not in any way modify the Licensed Marks as used in connection with the Licensed Use at any time without Licensor's prior written consent. Licensor's consent may be withheld for any reason or no reason.

3.2 GOODWILL. The parties acknowledge and agree that great value is placed on the Licensed Marks and the goodwill associated therewith, that the consuming public and the industry now associate the Licensed Marks with goods and services of consistently high quality, and that the terms and conditions of this Agreement are necessary and reasonable to assure the consuming public and the industry that all goods and services provided hereunder are of the same consistently high quality as goods and services provided by others who are or may hereafter be licensed to provide goods and services under the Licensed Marks. Accordingly, Licensor may prohibit Licensee from using the Licensed Marks in connection with any goods or services which fail to conform to the quality and standards prescribed by Licensor at Licensor's sole discretion.

3.3 HIGH QUALITY STANDARDS. As early as possible, and in any event prior to each calendar year and before instituting any change in the goods and services provided under the Licensed Marks, Licensor shall have the right to exercise quality control over the goods and services provided by Licensee under the Licensed Marks by making any changes or corrections in said goods or services as may be required to maintain the high quality standards prescribed by Licensor, and Licensee agrees to make and incorporate said changes or corrections.

3.4 APPROVAL. Licensee shall make no changes in any goods or services after they have been approved without resubmitting descriptions of the goods or services for approval. If, during operation, Licensee deviates from the approved goods or services,


Licensee agrees to submit new descriptions of the goods or services for approval. Approval or disapproval of such goods or services shall lie in Licensor's sole discretion. Should Licensor require additional description of the goods or services at any given time, Licensee agrees to provide such additional description to Licensor.

3.5 COOPERATION. Licensee agrees to exercise its best efforts to cooperate with Licensor at all times in the coordination of goods and services so that they are consistent with the style, image, and quality of other goods and services provided under the Licensed Marks.

3.6 INSPECTION. Licensor or its representatives may, at all reasonable business hours, inspect the operations and facilities of Licensee with respect to this Agreement.

3.7. SUBSTANDARD GOODS OR SERVICES. Licensee agrees not to advertise, promote, offer for sale, sell, provide or perform or to permit any third party to advertise, promote, offer for sale, sell, provide or perform substandard goods or services under the Licensed Marks. Substandard goods or services are defined as goods and services not meeting the specifications and/or quality standards of Licensor.

3.8 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. Licensee agrees to comply with all applicable local, state and federal labeling, notice and warning laws, and at all times to conduct the activities pursuant to this Agreement in a lawful manner.

ARTICLE 4
PROPERTY RIGHTS

4.1 TITLE. Title to the Licensed Marks shall always remain with Licensor. Licensee shall not acquire any right or interest in the Licensed Marks except the right to use the same pursuant to this Agreement. Licensee's use of the Licensed Marks shall inure to Licensor's exclusive benefit.

4.2 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS. The parties agree that Licensor shall solely own and have exclusive worldwide right, title and interest in and to all United States and worldwide trademarks, copyrights, service marks, trade secrets and all other intellectual property rights in any way regarding the Licensed Marks and to all other intellectual property rights in any way regarding the Licensed Marks and to all modifications and derivative marks related thereto. Licensee shall not challenge or otherwise contest the validity, ownership or enforceability of the Licensed Marks or any of Licensor's other Trademarks.

4.3 NO USE AFTER TERMINATION. Upon termination of this License, Licensee agrees to immediately cease all use of the Licensed Marks and any marks confusingly similar thereto.


ARTICLE 5
GENERAL PROVISIONS

5.1 GOVERNING LAW AND VENUE. This Agreement shall be interpreted and enforced under the laws of the State of California, without application of its conflict of law or choice of law rules. Both parties irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of the state or federal courts located in Orange County, California for any action or proceeding regarding this Agreement, and both parties waive any right to object to such jurisdiction and venue in any way.

5.2 ASSIGNMENT. Licensee acknowledges that the favorable terms of this Agreement were granted to Licensee only because of Licensee's experience, and that the substitution of any party by Licensee would destroy the intent of the parties. Accordingly, except as specifically set forth in paragraph 2.1 hereof, Licensee shall have no right to assign, delegate, transfer, or otherwise encumber this Agreement or any portion thereof, without Licensor's prior written consent which can be arbitrarily withheld.

5.3 SEVERABILITY. If any provision, or part thereof, of this Agreement is judicially declared invalid, void or unenforceable, each and every other provision, or part thereof, nevertheless shall continue in full force and effect.

5.4 ATTORNEYS' FEES. In the event a dispute arises regarding this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to its reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses incurred in addition to any other relief to which it is entitled.

5.5 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties regarding the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous understandings or agreements, whether oral or written. This Agreement shall be modified or amended only by a writing signed by both Licensor and Licensee.

5.6 AUTHORITY. The parties executing this Agreement on behalf of Licensor and Licensee represent and warrant that they have the authority from their respective governing bodies to enter into this Agreement and to bind their respective companies to all the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

5.7 NOTICES. All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder, whether or not required, shall be in writing and shall be sent by registered or certified mail, or by recognized national delivery service, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the address address provided by the receiving party from time to time.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement effective as of the date set forth on page 1.

LICENSOR                                    LICENSEE
CARL KARCHER ENTERPRISES, INC.              STAR BUFFET, INC.


By:  _______________________________        By: _______________________________
     Name:                                      Name:

Title: Title:


EXHIBIT 10.13

SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

This Settlement Agreement ("Agreement") is made and entered into as of this Eighth day of October, 1997, by and among the following entities:

(1) Summit Family Restaurants Inc. ("Summit"), a Delaware corporation headquartered in Utah;

(2) HTB Restaurants, Inc. ("HTB"), a Delaware corporation headquartered in Utah, and a subsidiary of Summit;

(3) CKE Restaurants, Inc. ("CKE"), a Delaware corporation headquartered in California;

(4) Star Buffet, Inc. ("Star Buffet"), a Delaware corporation headquartered in Utah;

(5) HomeTown Buffet, Inc. ("HomeTown"), a Delaware corporation headquartered in Minnesota; and

(6) Buffets, Inc. ("Buffets"), a Minnesota corporation headquartered in Minnesota, and the parent company of HomeTown.

Summit, HTB, and CKE collectively are referred to hereinafter as the "CKE Entities."

RECITALS

This Agreement is entered into with regard to the following facts:

WHEREAS, certain of the CKE Entities, on the one hand, and HomeTown, on the other hand, have been parties to a Multiple Unit Agreement ("MUA") relating to the development and operation of restaurants under the franchise HomeTown Buffet(R), and to 16 separate Franchise Agreements; and

WHEREAS, in June 1996 Summit and HTB commenced an action against HomeTown in the Third Judicial District Court for Salt Lake County, State of Utah, relating to the MUA, which action is entitled Summit Family Restaurants Inc. and HTB Restaurants Inc. v.


HomeTown Buffet, Inc., Civil No. 960904491 CN ("State Action"), and is pending; and

WHEREAS, on June 26, 1996 Summit and HTB commenced an arbitration proceeding against HomeTown before the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") relating to the MUA ("Arbitration Proceeding"); and

WHEREAS, in August 1996 the CKE Entities commenced an action against HomeTown and Buffets in the United States District Court for the District of Utah, Central Division, relating to the MUA and to the merger between HomeTown and Buffets, which action is entitled Summit Family Restaurants Inc., HTB Restaurants, Inc., and CKE Restaurants, Inc. vs. HomeTown Buffet, Inc. and Buffets, Inc., Civil No. 96 CV 0688B ("Federal Action"), and is pending; and

WHEREAS, HomeTown and Buffets strenuously denied that they engaged in any of the wrongdoing alleged by the CKE Entities in the State Action, the Arbitration proceeding, the Federal Action, or otherwise; and

WHEREAS, on January 31, 1997, an Award was entered in the Arbitration Proceeding in favor of HomeTown and against Summit and HTB, holding, among other things, that HomeTown was entitled to terminate the MUA; and

WHEREAS, by Order and Judgment filed on September 10, 1997, in the action bearing file number Civil No. 2:97CV 00355B, United States District Court for the District of Utah, Central Division, confirmed the arbitration Award; and

WHEREAS, on July 28, 1997, CKE announced the formation of Star Buffet,

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announced that all of the issued and outstanding stock of Summit would be transferred to Star Buffet, and announced that Star Buffet intended to make a public offering of common stock; and

WHEREAS, a dispute has arisen between Star Buffet and the CKE Entities, on the one hand, and HomeTown, on the other hand, concerning whether certain of the proposed transactions that were announced by CKE on July 28, 1997 required the consent of HomeTown pursuant to Section 12 of each of the 16 separate Franchise Agreements; and

WHEREAS, in order to avoid the distraction and expense of continued litigation and arbitration, the undersigned parties are desirous of resolving their disputes and of discharging and releasing any and all claims which were or could have been asserted by the CKE Entities against HomeTown and/or Buffets;

NOW, THEREFORE, for the valuable consideration described below, the receipt and sufficiency of which hereby are expressly acknowledged, the undersigned parties mutually agree as follows:

JUDGMENT ON AWARD

1. The undersigned parties agree, consistent with the Order and Judgment of the United States District Court for the District of Utah, Central Division, filed on September 10, 1997, in the action bearing file number Civil No. 2:97CV 00355B, that final judgment on the arbitration Award shall be entered forth- with. The CKE Entities and Star Buffet represent and agree that they will not appeal such judgment, and hereby waive any right that they might otherwise have to take an appeal from the judgment confirming the Award. The CKE Entities and Star Buffet acknowledge and agree that the Award and the related judgment are

-3-

determinative of the issue of whether they, or any of them, have rights to develop additional HomeTown Buffet(R) franchised restaurants or to an exclusive territory to own and operate HomeTown Buffet(R) restaurants. Based upon the Award and its related judgment, the CKE Entities and Star Buffet agree that they no longer have any such rights.

LIMITED WAIVER OF RIGHTS

2. Pursuant to Section 12.1.3 of each of the 16 Franchise Agreements, and based upon HTB's representations and warranties that (a) the transfer of the capital stock of Summit as part of the "Summit Exchange" is as defined and identified at page 5 of the Amendment No. 2 of the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Star Buffet with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 22, 1997 and that the Summit Exchange has in fact occurred as of the date hereof, and (b) at no point since Summit's original ownership of the common stock of HTB through the date of this Agreement has Summit owned less than all of the outstanding capital stock of HTB, then based upon those representations and warranties by HTB, HomeTown hereby waives its right to review whether the capital transfer associated with the Summit Exchange invokes the provisions set forth in sections 12.1 and 12.3 of each of the 16 Franchise Agreements, or to consent to such capital transfer insofar as such provisions do apply. HomeTown does not waive any other provisions of the 16 Franchise Agreements, nor does it waive Sections 12.1 and 12.3 except with respect to the "Summit Exchange". Nothing contained herein is, or shall be construed as, agreement, approval, or acquiescence by HomeTown to the formation of Star Buffet or to any of its activities or operations. HTB does not concede that HomeTown has a right to review the capital transfer associated with the "Summit Exchange" or

-4-

that HomeTown's consent is required with respect to such capital transfer.

DISMISSALS

3. Within five (5) days after the execution of this Agreement, Summit, HTB, and HomeTown shall cause their respective counsel to enter into a Stipulation For Dismissal With Prejudice, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 1, dismissing the State Action, and all claims that were or could have been asserted by the plaintiffs in the State Action, with prejudice and on the merits, but without costs to any party, and to obtain a judgment of dismissal in accordance with the terms set forth in said Stipulation.

4. Within five (5) days of the execution of this Agreement, the CKE Entities, HomeTown and Buffets shall cause their respective counsel to enter into a Stipulation For Dismissal With Prejudice, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 2, dismissing the Federal Action, and all claims that were or could have been asserted by the plaintiffs in the Federal Action, with prejudice and on the merits, but without costs to any party, and to obtain a judgment of dismissal in accordance with the terms set forth in said Stipulation.

RELEASE BY THE CKE ENTITIES AND STAR BUFFET

5. The CKE Entities and Star Buffet, on their own behalf and on behalf of their past and present parent, subsidiary, affiliated, and related corporations and entities, and their predecessors and successors in interest (collectively "CKE Releasors"), do hereby release and forever discharge HomeTown and Buffets, and their past and present parent, subsidiary, affiliated, and related corporations and entities, their predecessors and successors in interest, and their respective past and present principals, agents, officers, directors, employees,

-5-

representatives, insurers, indemnitors and attorneys (collectively "HomeTown Released Parties"), of and from any and all claims, liabilities, demands, actions, and causes of action, of every kind and nature whatsoever, whether known or unknown, existing or not existing, asserted or unasserted, liquidated or unliquidated, absolute or contingent, in law or in equity, which the CKE Releasors have ever had, presently have, or may in the future have or claim to have, against the HomeTown Released Parties, or any of them, by reason of any matter, event, cause or thing whatsoever arising out of, based in whole or in part upon, relating to, or existing by reason of:

(a) Any acts, omissions, and/or failures to act that were alleged in the State Action, the Arbitration Proceeding, and/or the Federal Action;

(b) Any claims that were or could have been asserted in the State Action, the Arbitration Proceeding, and/or the Federal Action;

(c) The merger between HomeTown and Buffets;

(d) Any claims under the federal or state antitrust laws, or for unfair competition, or for breach of any of the 16 Franchise Agreements, that are based, in whole or in part, upon acts, omissions, and/or failures to act that occurred prior to the date hereof; and

(e) The development, ownership, or operation of a buffet-style restaurant at 6625 E. Southern Avenue, Mesa, AZ 85206, either under the name of HomeTown Buffet(R) or the name Old Country Buffet(R).

-6-

6. HomeTown and Buffets, on their own behalf and on behalf of their past and present parent, subsidiary, affiliated and related corporations and entities, and their predecessors and successors in interest (collectively "HomeTown Releasors"), do hereby release and forever discharge the CKE Entities, their predecessors and successors in interest, and their respective past and present principals, agents, officers, directors, employees, representatives, insurers, indemnitors and attorneys (collectively "CKE Released Parties"), of and from any claims for malicious prosecution, abuse of process, sanctions under Federal or State rules of procedure, or other like claims equally limited, related to the filing and prosecution of the State Action, Arbitration Proceeding and/or the Federal Action by the CKE Entities.

7. The releases contained in Paragraphs 5 and 6 relate to facts and events that occurred up to and including the date hereof and do not cover events which might occur in the future.

8. The CKE Entities and Star Buffet hereby acknowledge that they are aware that they, or their legal counsel, may hereunder discover claims or facts in addition to, or different from, those that they now know or believe to exist with respect to the subject matters of the release set forth in Paragraph 5 herein, but acknowledge that it is their expressed intention to hereby fully, finally and forever settle and release all claims, disputes and differences, known or unknown, asserted or unasserted, suspected or unsuspected, which do now exist, may hereafter exist, or may heretofore have existed, without regard to the subsequent discovery or existence of different or additional claims or facts.

9. The CKE Entities, Star Buffet, HomeTown and Buffets hereby agree that

-7-

the MUA, and all of the rights and obligations contained therein, are terminated in their entirety. The 16 Franchise Agreements remain in full force and effect and the parties intend to fully perform their respective obligations thereunder. HomeTown and HTB may freely enforce the terms of the Franchise Agreements subject to the terms of this Agreement.

No Admission Of Liability

10. It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that HomeTown and Buffets at all times have denied, and still deny, any liability, fault or wrongdoing in and for the claims that were asserted in the State Action, the Arbitration proceeding, and the Federal Action. Neither this Agreement nor the settlement provided herein is, may be construed as, or may be used as, an admission by or against any undersigned party of any fault, wrongdoing or liability whatsoever.

Miscellaneous Provisions

11. This Agreement may not be supplemented or changed orally.

12. No breach of any provision of this Agreement by any party hereto can be waived by any other party hereto, unless expressly done so in writing. Waiver of any one breach shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any other breach of the same or any other provisions hereof.

13. The undersigned parties and their respective counsel have reviewed this Agreement, and the rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this Agreement.

14. Each of the parties hereto acknowledges and represents that it has had the opportunity to consult with legal, financial, tax, and other professional advisors as it deems

-8-

appropriate in connection with its consideration and execution of this Agreement. Each party further represents and declares that in executing this Agreement, it has relied solely upon its own judgment, belief and knowledge, and the advice and recommendation of its own professional advisors, concerning the nature, extent and duration of its rights, obligations and claims, and that it has not been influenced to any extent whatsoever in executing this Agreement by any representations or statements made by the other party or its representatives, except those expressly contained or referred to herein.

15. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

16. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Utah.

17. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument. The parties hereto shall exchange among themselves original signed counterparts. Pending receipt of such original signed counterparts, the transmission of an executed signature page via electronic facsimile shall be deemed conclusive evidence that the party transmitting the signature page has agreed to the totality of the terms of this Agreement, unmodified, notwithstanding the fact that only the signature page(s) has been transmitted.

(Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank)

-9-

SUMMIT FAMILY RESTAURANTS INC.

By  /s/ CHARLOTTE L. MILLER
    -------------------------------------
    Its  Sr. V.P.
         --------------------------------

STATE OF UTAH )

) SS.

COUNTY OF SALT LAKE )

On this Eighth day of October, 1997, before me a Notary Public of the State of Utah, appeared Charlotte L. Miller, to me personally known to be the person whose name is subscribed to this document, who being duly sworn did depose and say that he/she is an officer of the above-decribed corporation; that he/she is duly authorized to execute this document on behalf of said corporation and to bind the corporation hereto; and that he/she signed his/her name hereto on behalf of the corporation and by like authority.

[NOTARIAL SEAL]          /s/ DIANE JOSIE
                         ----------------------------------
                         Notary Public

* * *

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CKE RESTAURANTS, INC.

By  /s/ ANDREW F. PUZDER
  -------------------------------

Its        EVP
   ------------------------------

STATE OF CALIFORNIA         )
                            ) SS.
COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA     )

On this Eighth day of October, 1997, before me a Notary Public of the State of California, appeared Andrew F. Puzder, to me personally known and known to be the person whose name is subscribed to this document, who being duly sworn did depose and say that he/she is an officer of the above-described corporation; that he/she is duly authorized to execute this document on behalf of said corporation and to bind the corporation hereto; and that he/she signed his/her name hereto on behalf of the corporation and by like authority.

[SEAL]                         /s/ S. PALMER
                               ----------------------------
                               Notary Public

* * *

-11-

HTB RESTAURANTS, INC.

By /s/ CHARLOTTE L. MILLER
   ---------------------------
Its   Sr. V.P.
   ---------------------------

STATE OF UTAH         )
                      )SS.
COUNTY OF SALT LAKE   )

On this Eighth day of October, 1997, before me a Notary Public of the State of Utah, appeared Charlotte L. Miller, to me personally known and known to be the person whose name is subscribed to this document, who being duly sworn did depose and say that he/she is an officer of the above-described corporation; that he/she is duly authorized to execute this document on behalf of said corporation and to bind the corporation hereto; and that he/she signed his/her name hereto on behalf of the corporation and by like authority.

[SEAL]                            /s/ DIANE JOSIE
                                  ---------------------------
                                  Notary Public

* * *

-12-

STAR BUFFET, INC.

By  /s/ CHARLOTTE L. MILLER
    -------------------------------------
    Its  Secretary
         --------------------------------

STATE OF UTAH )

) SS.

COUNTY OF SALT LAKE )

On this Eighth day of October, 1997, before me a Notary Public of the State of Utah, appeared Charlotte L. Miller, to me personally known to be the person whose name is subscribed to this document, who being duly sworn did depose and say that he/she is an officer of the above-decribed corporation; that he/she is duly authorized to execute this document on behalf of said corporation and to bind the corporation hereto; and that he/she signed his/her name hereto on behalf of the corporation and by like authority.

[NOTARIAL SEAL]          /s/ DIANE JOSIE
                         ----------------------------------
                         Notary Public

* * *

-13-

HOMETOWN BUFFET, INC.

By  /s/ H. THOMAS MITCHELL
    -------------------------------------
    Its  Secretary
         --------------------------------

STATE OF MINNESOTA )
) SS.
COUNTY OF HENNEPIN )

On this Eighth day of October, 1997, before me a Notary Public of the State of Minnesota, appeared H. Thomas Mitchell, to me personally known to be the person whose name is subscribed to this document, who being duly sworn did depose and say that he/she is an officer of the above-decribed corporation; that he/she is duly authorized to execute this document on behalf of said corporation and to bind the corporation hereto; and that he/she signed his/her name hereto on behalf of the corporation and by like authority.

[NOTARIAL SEAL]          /s/ JULIE SAUSER
                         ----------------------------------
                         Notary Public

* * *

-14-

BUFFETS, INC.

By  /s/ ROE H. HATLER
    -------------------------------------
    Its  CEO
         --------------------------------

STATE OF MINNESOTA )
) SS.
COUNTY OF HENNEPIN )

On this Eighth day of October, 1997, before me a Notary Public of the State of Minnesota, appeared Roe H. Hatler, to me personally known to be the person whose name is subscribed to this document, who being duly sworn did depose and say that he/she is an officer of the above-decribed corporation; that he/she is duly authorized to execute this document on behalf of said corporation and to bind the corporation hereto; and that he/she signed his/her name hereto on behalf of the corporation and by like authority.

[NOTARIAL SEAL]          /s/ HAROLD T. MITCHELL III
                         ----------------------------------
                         Notary Public

* * *

-15-

EXHIBIT 1
TO SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT DATED OCTOBER 8, 1997


IN THE THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT FOR SALT LAKE COUNTY

STATE OF UTAH


SUMMIT FAMILY RESTAURANTS
INC., a Delaware corporation; HTB
RESTAURANTS INC., a Delaware

corporation,                            STIPULATION FOR
               Plaintiffs,              DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE

vs.

                                        Civil No. 960904491 CN

HOMETOWN BUFFET, INC., a Delaware Judge J. Dennis Fredrick corporation,

Defendant.


IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED AND AGREED by and among the parties herein, by their respective undersigned attorneys, that the above-entitled action and all claims that were or could have been asserted therein by plaintiffs shall be and hereby are dismissed with prejudice and on the merits, without costs to any party.

IT IS FURTHER STIPULATED AND AGREED that the Court may enter an Order for Judgement in accordance with the terms of this Stipulation without notice to the parties.

EXHIBIT 1


Date: September _________, 1997.         KIMBALL, PARR, WADDOUPS,
                                         BROWN & GEE

                                      By ____________________________________
                                         Clark D. Waddoups (Reg. # ____)
                                         Jonathan O. Hafen  (Reg. #A6096)
                                         Suite 1300
                                         185 South State Street
                                         P.O. Box 11019
                                         Salt Lake City, UT 84147
                                         Telephone: (801) 532-7840

                                         Attorneys for Plaintiffs

Date: September ________, 1997.          MACKEY PRICE & WILLIAMS

                                      By ____________________________________
                                         Gifford W. Price (Utah Reg. #2547)
                                         Suite 900
                                         170 South Main Street
                                         Salt Lake City, UT 84101
                                         Telephone: (801) 575-5000

                                         Attorneys for Defendant

-2-

TO SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT DATED OCTOBER 8, 1997


IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF UTAH

CENTRAL DIVISION

SUMMIT FAMILY RESTAURANTS
INC., a Delaware corporation; HTB
RESTAURANTS INC., a Delaware
corporation; and CKE RESTAURANTS
INC., a Delaware corporation,
STIPULATION FOR

                    Plaintiffs,                   DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE

vs.

HOMETOWN BUFFET, INC., A Delaware                 Judge Dee Benson
corporation; and BUFFETS, INC., a                 Civil No. 96 CV 0688B
Minnesota corporation,

                    Defendants.


IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED AND AGREED by and among the parties herein, by their respective undesigned attorneys, that the above-entitled action and all claims that were or could have been asserted therein by plaintiffs shall be and hereby are dismissed with prejudice and on the merits, without costs to any party.

IT IS FURTHER STIPULATED AND AGREED that the Court may enter an order for Judgment in accordance with the terms of this Stipulation without notice to the parties.

EXHIBIT 2


Date: September __, 1997. KIMBALL, PARR, WADDOUPS,
BROWN & GEE

By

Clark D. Waddoups (Reg. #_____) Jonathan O. Hafeu (Reg. #A6096) Suite 1300 185 South State Street P.O. Box 11019 Salt Lake City, UT 84147 Telephone: (801) 532-7840

Attorneys for Plaintiff

Date: September __, 1997.               MACKEY PRICE & WILLIAMS


                                     By
                                        -----------------------------------
                                        Gifford W. Price (Reg. #2647)
                                        900 First Interstate Plaza
                                        170 South Main Street
                                        Salt Lake City, UT 84101-1655
                                        Telephone: (801) 575-5000

                                                       - and -

                                        FAEGRE & BENSON LLP
                                        Wendy J. Wildung (Minn. Reg. #117055)
                                        2200 Norwest Center
                                        90 South Seventh Street
                                        Minneapolis, MN 55402-3901
                                        Telephone: (612) 336-3000

                                        Attorneys for Defendants

-2-

[HOMETOWN BUFFET LETTERHEAD]

October 8, 1997
VIA FACSIMILE AND OVERNIGHT COURIER

HOMETOWN BUFFET, INC.
Attn: Mr. Tom Mitchell, Secretary
10260 Viking Drive
Eden Prairie, MN 55344

Dear Mr. Mitchell:

As an inducement and partial consideration for HomeTown Buffet, Inc. ("HomeTown") and Buffets, Inc. to enter into the Settlement Agreement dated October 8, 1997 ("Settlement Agreement") - with HTB Restaurants, Inc. ("HTB") and its affiliated companies CKE Restaurants, Inc., Summit Family Restaurants Inc. and Star Buffet, Inc. -- HTB hereby promises and agrees to perform as described in this letter agreement ("Agreement"). HTB acknowledges that these promises and agreements are independent of the 16 Franchise Agreements, and do not limit or otherwise define the provisions of the 16 Franchise Agreements. However, in order to provide HomeTown with a means of enforcing HTB's obligations herein, HTB agrees that a breach of any of the provisions of this Agreement by HTB shall be deemed an event of default under the Franchise Agreements.

1) Financial Reporting: Immediately upon execution of this Agreement, in addition to HTB's reporting obligations specified in Section 10 of the Franchise Agreements, HTB agrees that it will provide to HomeTown financial information, by restaurant, in the form prescribed by HomeTown, which shall until further notice utilize a format similar in appearance and having no less detail and content than as shown on the sample report attached hereto as Exhibit "A". HTB hereby confirms that HomeTown has indicated that, provided HTB brings its financial reporting obligations to HomeTown current within ten (10) days of the date of the Settlement Agreement, for all prior periods where inadequate reporting was made contrary to the requirements of the 16 Franchise Agreements, HomeTown will not consider such prior reporting deficiencies an event of default under any of the 16 Franchise Agreements.

2) Maintenance and Repair: Within one month of the date of this Agreement, HTB will schedule its senior operating officer to survey the HTB's HomeTown restaurants jointly with

-1-

Mr. H. Thomas Mitchell

Page 2 of 3

October 8, 1997

a HomeTown operations designee for purposes of discussing the current state of maintenance and repair of HTB's HomeTown restaurants.

3) Gift Certificates/Be-My-Guest Passes: HTB agrees that it will accept gift certificates and Be-My-Guest Passes (collectively, "Passes") issued by any other HomeTown Buffet or Old Country Buffet restaurant, provided that the organization operating those restaurants in turn accepts HTB's HomeTown Buffet Passes, and provided that the organization which issued the Passes reimburses the organization redeeming the Passes from bona-fide customers at the face value of such Passes. (In the instances of Be-My-Guest Passes, reimbursement shall be at the then-current meal price that would have otherwise been paid buy the customer presenting each Pass.) HTB agrees that it will meet with HomeTown's designee to implement procedures for effecting such reciprocal acceptance of Passes, such that the protocol is in place and operative within one month of the date of this Agreement.

4) Location Directory Inclusion: HTB agrees that its franchised HomeTown Buffet restaurant locations may be listed in a joint HomeTown Buffet/Old Country Buffet location directory periodically produced by Buffets, Inc., provided that the directory discloses the fact that HTB's HomeTown restaurants are franchised locations. HTB shall not be obligated to contribute towards the cost of designing or updating the joint location directory nor shall it be obligated to use the directory. However, if HTB requests copies of the directories for use in its HomeTown Buffet restaurants, and HomeTown agrees to provide such directories, HTB shall pay HomeTown its actual cost of printing, handling and shipping the directories to HTB. Buffets and its affiliates shall be under no obligation to continue printing the directories or to include HTB in its listings.

5) Marketing Materials: In addition to complying with Section 9 of the Franchise Agreements, HTB agrees that the marketing samples it is to provide to HomeTown Buffet for review shall be submitted at the first available opportunity, but in no later than two weeks prior to the date when the marketing materials are scheduled to go to print. HomeTown shall thereafter review such samples upon receipt from HTB in accordance with the provisions of
Section 9 of the Franchise Agreements. If HTB has not received comments back from HomeTown within two weeks of HomeTown's receipt of HTB's marketing samples, it will be deemed that HomeTown has waived review of those specific samples. If, however, HomeTown reasonably believes that more time is necessary to review the marketing samples, HomeTown may extend the review period upon notice to HTB during the initial two week review period,

-2-

Mr. H. Thomas Mitchell

Page 3 of 3

October 8, 1997

accompanied by an explanation of what additional review is deemed required.

6) Franchise Servicing: HTB acknowledges and agrees that HomeTown may utilize personnel or contractors other than HomeTown employees to perform Franchisor's obligations under the 16 Franchise Agreements, and specifically consents to HomeTown's use of individuals who have an affiliation with the Old Country Buffet restaurants concept in doing so. HTB also agrees that HomeTown or its affiliates may produce marketing materials, documents, recipes and other systems reflecting both the HomeTown Buffet and/or Old Country Buffet trademarks and which may in some instances be utilized in common between both brands.

HTB and HomeTown mutually agree that any and all disputes and claims between them under this Agreement, or relating to it, shall be settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect. Such arbitration shall be subject to the provisions of Section 15 of the 16 Franchise Agreements entitled "Arbitration."

HTB acknowledges that these promises and agreements are intended for the benefit of HomeTown, and that they shall not limit HomeTown's rights or HTB's obligations under the 16 Franchise Agreements. HomeTown may freely enforce the terms of the Franchise Agreements together with the additional HTB agreements contained in this letter.

Sincerely,
HTB Restaurants, Inc.

By:  /s/ CHARLOTTE L. MILLER
     ----------------------------------
Its: Sr. V.P.
     ----------------------------------

Accepted:


HomeTown Buffet, Inc.

By:  /s/ H. THOMAS MITCHELL
     ----------------------------------
Its: Secretary
     ----------------------------------

-3-

EXHIBIT 11-1

STAR BUFFET, INC.
COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS
PER SHARE

                                                                    PERIOD ENDED
                                                              -------------------------
                                                              JANUARY 26,   JANUARY 27,
                                                                 1998          1997
                                                              -----------   -----------
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE:
Net Income..................................................  $2,699,000    $  470,000
                                                              ----------    ----------
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding during
  the year..................................................   3,515,000     2,600,000
                                                              ----------    ----------
Basic Earnings per Share....................................  $     0.77    $     0.18
                                                              ==========    ==========
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE
Net Income..................................................  $2,699,000    $  470,000
                                                              ----------    ----------
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding during
  the year..................................................   3,515,000     2,600,000
  Incremental common shares attributable to exercise of
     stock options..........................................      13,000            --
                                                              ----------    ----------
                                                               3,528,000     2,600,000
Diluted Earnings per Share..................................  $     0.76    $     0.18
                                                              ==========    ==========




EXHIBIT 23-4

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

The Board of Directors
Star Buffet, Inc.:

We consent to incorporation by reference in the registration statements (No. 333-46939 and 333-50767) on Form S-8 of Star Buffet, Inc. of our report dated March 16, 1998, relating to the consolidated balance sheets of Star Buffet, Inc. and subsidiaries (Successor Company) as of January 26, 1998 and January 27, 1997, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for the fifty-two week period ended January 26, 1998 and twenty-eight week period ended January 27, 1997 (Successor Period) and the statements of income, stockholders' equity, and cash flows of HTB Restaurants, Inc. for the thirty week period ended July 15, 1996 and the fifty-two week period ended December 18, 1995 (Predecessor Company), which report appears in the January 26, 1998 annual report on Form 10-K of Star Buffet, Inc. Our report refers to a business combination accounted for as a purchase that occurred on July 16, 1996, the result of which renders the financial information for the periods before and after the acquisition not comparable.

KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

Salt Lake City, Utah

April 24, 1998


ARTICLE 5
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the registrants Form 10-K for the year ended January 26, 1998, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements, including the notes thereto.


PERIOD TYPE 12 MOS
FISCAL YEAR END JAN 26 1998
PERIOD START JAN 27 1997
PERIOD END JAN 26 1998
CASH 15,387,000
SECURITIES 0
RECEIVABLES 336,000
ALLOWANCES 0,
INVENTORY 493,000
CURRENT ASSETS 16,530,000
PP&E 15,077,000
DEPRECIATION 2,074,000
TOTAL ASSETS 40,969,000
CURRENT LIABILITIES 6,323,000
BONDS 0
PREFERRED MANDATORY 0
PREFERRED 0
COMMON 5,000
OTHER SE 32,532,000
TOTAL LIABILITY AND EQUITY 40,969,000
SALES 54,659,000
TOTAL REVENUES 54,659,000
CGS 48,445,000
TOTAL COSTS 50,554,000
OTHER EXPENSES (593,000)
LOSS PROVISION 0
INTEREST EXPENSE 200,000
INCOME PRETAX 4,498,000
INCOME TAX 1,799,000
INCOME CONTINUING 2,699,000
DISCONTINUED 0
EXTRAORDINARY 0
CHANGES 0
NET INCOME 2,699,000
EPS PRIMARY 0.77
EPS DILUTED 0.76