<PAGE>   1

    AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OCTOBER 14, 1997
                                                  REGISTRATION NO. 333-
                                                                       --------
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
            REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                             RAINFOREST CAFE, INC.
            (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

                                   MINNESOTA
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

                                   41-1779527
                       (IRS Employer Identification No.)

                             520 SOUTH FIFTH STREET
                           HOPKINS, MINNESOTA  55343
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                        1997 DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION PLAN
                              (Full title of Plan)

                               KENNETH W. BRIMMER
                             RAINFOREST CAFE, INC.
                             520 SOUTH FIFTH STREET
                            HOPKINS, MINNESOTA 55343
                                 (612) 945-5400
           (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

                                   Copies to:

                             DOUGLAS T. HOLOD, ESQ.
                         MASLON EDELMAN BORMAN & BRAND,
                  A PROFESSIONAL LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP
                              3300 NORWEST CENTER
                          MINNEAPOLIS, MN  55402-4140
                                 (612) 672-8200



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
===========================================================================================
TITLE OF                              PROPOSED MAXIMUM  PROPOSED MAXIMUM
OF SECURITIES TO BE  AMOUNT TO BE     OFFERING PRICE    AGGREGATE          AMOUNT OF
REGISTERED           REGISTERED       PER SHARE(1)      OFFERING PRICE(1)  REGISTRATION FEE
-------------------  ---------------  ----------------  -----------------  ----------------
<S>                   <C>             <C>              <C>                 <C>
Common Stock (no
par value per share)  200,000 shares   $34.13           $6,825,000.00       $2,353.45
===========================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1) Estimated solely for purposes of computing the registration fee in
accordance with Rule 457(h) and based upon the average of the high and low
prices of the Common Stock on the NASDAQ National Market System on October 7,
1997.




                                 Page 1 of 9
<PAGE>   2





                                    PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT


Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

     The following documents filed by the Registrant with the Securities and
Exchange Commission are incorporated herein by reference and made a part
hereof:

     (a) The contents of the Registrant's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 29, 1996.

     (b) The contents of the Registrant's Form 10-Q for the first quarter ended
March 30, 1997 and the Registrant's Form 10-Q for the second quarter ended June
29, 1997.

     All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been
sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed
to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be part
hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

     The Registrant is governed by Minnesota Statutes Chapter 302A.  Minnesota
Statutes Section 302A.521 provides that a corporation shall indemnify any
person made or threatened to be made a party to any proceeding by reason of the
former or present official capacity of such person against judgments,
penalties, fines, including, without limitation, excise taxes assessed against
such person with respect to an employee benefit plan, settlements, and
reasonable expenses, including attorney's fees and disbursements, incurred by
such person in connection with the proceeding, if, with respect to the acts or
omissions of such person complained of in the proceeding, such person has not
been indemnified by another organization or employee benefit plan for the same
expenses with respect to the same acts or omissions; acted in good faith;
received no improper personal benefit and Section 302A.255, if applicable, has
been satisfied; in the case of a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause
to believe the conduct was unlawful; and in the case of acts or omissions by
persons in their official capacity for the corporation, reasonably believed
that the conduct was in the best interests of the corporation, or in the case
of acts or omissions by persons in their capacity for other organizations,
reasonably believed that the conduct was not opposed to the best interests of
the corporation.

Item 8. Exhibits.

     5.     Opinion of Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, a Professional Limited
            Liability Partnership
     23(1). Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP
     23(2). Consent of Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, a Professional Limited
            Liability Partnership (contained in Exhibit 5).
     24.    Power of Attorney (included on Page 5).




                                 Page 2 of 9
<PAGE>   3

Item 9. Undertakings.

     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

     (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this registration statement;

         (i)    To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
  Securities Act of 1933;

         (ii)   To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
  the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent
  post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate,
  represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the
  registration statement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
  decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of
  securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any
  deviation from the low or high and of the estimated maximum offering range
  may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission
  pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and
  price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate
  offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in
  the effective registration statement.

         (iii)  To include any material information with respect to the plan of
  distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any
  material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are
incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

  (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

  (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.

      The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit
plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be
deemed to be a new 



                                 Page 3 of 9
<PAGE>   4

registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.
        
     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.










                                 Page 4 of 9
<PAGE>   5



                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized in the City of Minneapolis, State of Minnesota, on October 10, 1997.

                                             RAINFOREST CAFE, INC.
                                              Registrant


                                             By s/ Kenneth W. Brimmer
                                               ---------------------------
                                                    President













                                 Page 5 of 9
<PAGE>   6



                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     We, the undersigned officers and directors of Rainforest Cafe, Inc.,
hereby severally constitute Mark S. Robinow, our true and lawful attorney with
full power to him, to sign for us and in our names, in the capacities indicated
below the registration statement filed herewith and any amendments to said
registration statement, and generally to do all such things in our name and
behalf in our capacities as officers and directors to enable Rainforest Cafe,
Inc. to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 as amended,
and all requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby
ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may be signed by our said
attorneys, or any of them, to said registration statement and any and all
amendments thereto.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated.



NAME                    TITLE                                     DATE
----                    -----                                     ----

s/ Lyle Berman          Chairman of the Board, Chief            October 10, 1997
----------------------  Executive Officer (principal executive
Lyle Berman             officer)




s/ Kenneth W. Brimmer   President, Secretary and Director       October 10, 1997
----------------------
Kenneth W. Brimmer


s/ David L. Rogers      Director                                October 10, 1997
----------------------
David L. Rogers


s/ Joel N. Waller       Director                                October 10, 1997
----------------------
Joel N. Waller


s/ Steven W. Schussler  Director                                October 10, 1997
----------------------
Steven W. Schussler

s/ Ercu Ucan            Director                                October 10, 1997
----------------------
Ercu Ucan


s/ Mark S. Robinow      Chief Financial Officer                 October 10, 1997
----------------------  (principal accounting officer)
Mark S. Robinow        





                                 Page 6 of 9
<PAGE>   7



                                    EXHIBITS




<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit Number           Description of Exhibit                               Page No.
--------------           ----------------------                               --------
<S>                       <C>                                                 <C>
5.                        Opinion of Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP         8
23(1)                     Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP                        9
23(2)                     Consent of Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP
                          (contained in Exhibit 5).                             8
24.                       Power of Attorney (included on Page 5).               6
</TABLE>


















                                 Page 7 of 9
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 13833}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "RAINFOREST CAFE INC", "cik": "0000924919", "assigned-sic": "5812", "irs-number": "411779527", "state-of-incorporation": "MN", "fiscal-year-end": "1229"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-37819", "film-number": "97695139"}, "business-address": {"street1": "720 SOUTH FIFTH STREET", "city": "HOPKINS", "state": "MN", "zip": "55343", "phone": "6129455400"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "720 SOUTH FIFTH STREET", "city": "HOPKINS", "state": "MN", "zip": "55343"}}
1

    AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OCTOBER 14, 1997
                                                  REGISTRATION NO. 333-
                                                                       --------
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
            REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                             RAINFOREST CAFE, INC.
            (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

                                   MINNESOTA
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

                                   41-1779527
                       (IRS Employer Identification No.)

                             520 SOUTH FIFTH STREET
                           HOPKINS, MINNESOTA  55343
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                        1997 DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION PLAN
                              (Full title of Plan)

                               KENNETH W. BRIMMER
                             RAINFOREST CAFE, INC.
                             520 SOUTH FIFTH STREET
                            HOPKINS, MINNESOTA 55343
                                 (612) 945-5400
           (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

                                   Copies to:

                             DOUGLAS T. HOLOD, ESQ.
                         MASLON EDELMAN BORMAN & BRAND,
                  A PROFESSIONAL LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP
                              3300 NORWEST CENTER
                          MINNEAPOLIS, MN  55402-4140
                                 (612) 672-8200
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
===========================================================================================
TITLE OF                              PROPOSED MAXIMUM  PROPOSED MAXIMUM
OF SECURITIES TO BE  AMOUNT TO BE     OFFERING PRICE    AGGREGATE          AMOUNT OF
REGISTERED           REGISTERED       PER SHARE(1)      OFFERING PRICE(1)  REGISTRATION FEE
-------------------  ---------------  ----------------  -----------------  ----------------
Common Stock (no
par value per share)  200,000 shares   $34.13           $6,825,000.00       $2,353.45
===========================================================================================
(1) Estimated solely for purposes of computing the registration fee in
accordance with Rule 457(h) and based upon the average of the high and low
prices of the Common Stock on the NASDAQ National Market System on October 7,
1997.

                                 Page 1 of 9
2

                                    PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

     The following documents filed by the Registrant with the Securities and
Exchange Commission are incorporated herein by reference and made a part
hereof:

     (a) The contents of the Registrant's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 29, 1996.

     (b) The contents of the Registrant's Form 10-Q for the first quarter ended
March 30, 1997 and the Registrant's Form 10-Q for the second quarter ended June
29, 1997.

     All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been
sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed
to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be part
hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

     The Registrant is governed by Minnesota Statutes Chapter 302A.  Minnesota
Statutes Section 302A.521 provides that a corporation shall indemnify any
person made or threatened to be made a party to any proceeding by reason of the
former or present official capacity of such person against judgments,
penalties, fines, including, without limitation, excise taxes assessed against
such person with respect to an employee benefit plan, settlements, and
reasonable expenses, including attorney's fees and disbursements, incurred by
such person in connection with the proceeding, if, with respect to the acts or
omissions of such person complained of in the proceeding, such person has not
been indemnified by another organization or employee benefit plan for the same
expenses with respect to the same acts or omissions; acted in good faith;
received no improper personal benefit and Section 302A.255, if applicable, has
been satisfied; in the case of a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause
to believe the conduct was unlawful; and in the case of acts or omissions by
persons in their official capacity for the corporation, reasonably believed
that the conduct was in the best interests of the corporation, or in the case
of acts or omissions by persons in their capacity for other organizations,
reasonably believed that the conduct was not opposed to the best interests of
the corporation.

Item 8. Exhibits.

     5.     Opinion of Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, a Professional Limited
            Liability Partnership
     23(1). Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP
     23(2). Consent of Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, a Professional Limited
            Liability Partnership (contained in Exhibit 5).
     24.    Power of Attorney (included on Page 5).

                                 Page 2 of 9
3

Item 9. Undertakings.

     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

     (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this registration statement;

         (i)    To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
  Securities Act of 1933;

         (ii)   To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
  the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent
  post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate,
  represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the
  registration statement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
  decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of
  securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any
  deviation from the low or high and of the estimated maximum offering range
  may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission
  pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and
  price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate
  offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in
  the effective registration statement.

         (iii)  To include any material information with respect to the plan of
  distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any
  material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are
incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

  (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

  (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.

      The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit
plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be
deemed to be a new 

                                 Page 3 of 9
4

registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.
        
     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                 Page 4 of 9
5

                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized in the City of Minneapolis, State of Minnesota, on October 10, 1997.

                                             RAINFOREST CAFE, INC.
                                              Registrant

                                             By s/ Kenneth W. Brimmer
                                               ---------------------------
                                                    President

                                 Page 5 of 9
6

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     We, the undersigned officers and directors of Rainforest Cafe, Inc.,
hereby severally constitute Mark S. Robinow, our true and lawful attorney with
full power to him, to sign for us and in our names, in the capacities indicated
below the registration statement filed herewith and any amendments to said
registration statement, and generally to do all such things in our name and
behalf in our capacities as officers and directors to enable Rainforest Cafe,
Inc. to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 as amended,
and all requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby
ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may be signed by our said
attorneys, or any of them, to said registration statement and any and all
amendments thereto.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated.

NAME                    TITLE                                     DATE
----                    -----                                     ----

s/ Lyle Berman          Chairman of the Board, Chief            October 10, 1997
----------------------  Executive Officer (principal executive
Lyle Berman             officer)

s/ Kenneth W. Brimmer   President, Secretary and Director       October 10, 1997
----------------------
Kenneth W. Brimmer

s/ David L. Rogers      Director                                October 10, 1997
----------------------
David L. Rogers

s/ Joel N. Waller       Director                                October 10, 1997
----------------------
Joel N. Waller

s/ Steven W. Schussler  Director                                October 10, 1997
----------------------
Steven W. Schussler

s/ Ercu Ucan            Director                                October 10, 1997
----------------------
Ercu Ucan

s/ Mark S. Robinow      Chief Financial Officer                 October 10, 1997
----------------------  (principal accounting officer)
Mark S. Robinow        

                                 Page 6 of 9
7

                                    EXHIBITS
Exhibit Number           Description of Exhibit                               Page No.
--------------           ----------------------                               --------
5.                        Opinion of Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP         8
23(1)                     Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP                        9
23(2)                     Consent of Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP
                          (contained in Exhibit 5).                             8
24.                       Power of Attorney (included on Page 5).               6
Page 7 of 9