William Lipovsky
Short Answer — Subway accepts EBT at select locations in Arizona, California, and Rhode Island. Food assistance recipients who are homeless, elderly, or disabled can use their benefits at participating restaurants.
Does Subway Accept EBT Cards?
Some Subway locations in Arizona, California, and Rhode Island accept EBT under each state’s Restaurant Meals Program (RMP).[1][2][3]
Note that Subway can only accept EBT cards for purchases made in the restaurant; Subway’s app cannot accept EBT payments.[4]
We confirmed this information by contacting Subway locations in Arizona, California, and Rhode Island and by viewing each state’s list of approved EBT restaurants.
RMP Eligibility
The RMP allows disabled, homeless, and elderly (age 60 or older) SNAP recipients to use their EBT cards at approved restaurants.[5]
Keep in mind that you must meet at least one of these criteria to use your EBT card at participating Subway locations or other participating restaurants.[5]
If you’re unsure about your eligibility, you can contact your benefits administrator to confirm.
Participating Subway Locations
Arizona
Arizona’s RMP allows EBT cardholders to use their cards at specific restaurants located in specific cities – not at all Subway restaurants throughout the state.
In total, there are over 100 Subway locations that accept EBT in Arizona.[1]
Select Subway locations in the following cities accept EBT:[1]
- Apache Junction
- Avondale
- Benson
- Buckeye
- Bullhead City
- Camp Verde
- Chandler
- Chinle
- Chino Valley
- Cottonwood
- El Mirage
- Flagstaff
- Fort Mohave
- Fountain Hills
- Gila Bend
- Gilbert
- Glendale
- Globe
- Gold Canyon
- Golden Valley
- Green Valley
- Kayenta
- Kingman
- Lake Havasu City
- Marana
- Mesa
- Navajo
- New River
- Nogales
- Parker
- Payson
- Peoria
- Phoenix
- Prescott
- Prescott Valley
- Queen Creek
- Rio Rico
- Sahuarita
- San Tan Valley
- Scottsdale
- Surprise
- Taylor
- Tempe
- Tolleson
- Tuba City
- Tucson
- Winslow
- Wittmann
For each location’s address and contact information, see Arizona’s participating restaurants/retailers list.
California
California’s CalFresh program allows EBT cardholders to get meals at approved restaurants statewide.[6]
Note that while the program is available statewide, not all Subway restaurants in the state choose to participate.[6][7]
To see whether there’s a Subway that takes EBT in your area, you can use California’s EBT locator. Enter your location, then select “FILTERS” at the top right of the page to search for Subway.[2]
Rhode Island
Rhode Island authorizes a specific list of restaurant locations throughout the state to accept EBT cards.[3]
The following Subway restaurants in Rhode Island accept EBT:[3]
- Central Falls:
- 310 Broad Street
- Cranston:
- 962 Cranston Street
- Pawtucket:
- 614 Pawtucket Avenue
- Providence:
- 579 Atwells Avenue
- 583 Elmwood Avenue
- 2 Kennedy Plaza
- 719 Westminster Street
- Westerly:
- 258 Post Road (inside Walmart)
- Woonsocket:
- 483 Clinton Street
Paying With EBT
EBT cards work like debit cards, so you can use the same standard card reader you’d use when buying a meal with a credit or debit card at Subway.[7]
It’s a good idea to check your EBT balance before visiting the restaurant; you can do so by using your state’s online portal or calling the customer service line.[8]
If your balance is lower than the cost of your meal, you may need to use a different payment method or split the payment, depending on the location’s policy.[7]
Other Restaurants That Take EBT
If you aren’t near a participating Subway restaurant or want to know where else you can buy restaurant meals with SNAP benefits, see the list of fast food that takes EBT.
Do subways in Olympia, WA accept EBT? I was told by a friend that they do but I’m not so sure and would like to know before I go and try to do the impossible. Lol
Hi Anthony,
Lots of Subways take EBT in California, Rhode Island, and Arizona. A few more may take EBT in Florida and Michigan. These states all have some variant of a Restaurant Meal Program, which allows qualified EBT recipients to use their EBT cards in restaurants. There’s no such program in Washington, and no Subways appear on the list of approved retailers in Washington from the USDA, so its very unlikely you’ll find one that will take our EBT card.
How can i find out the restaurants that take ebt in greenville south carolina
Hi Ash,
I wasn’t able to find any EBT-accepting restaurant locator specifically for SC, but you can try the Federal locator here. The SC Department of Social Services says that EBT can buy “food such as breads and cereals, non-alcoholic beverages, fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, poultry, dairy products and more.” This is consistent with the federal rules, so like the article says, you may be able to use EBT at restaurants as long as your purchase is for cold, take out food that falls into one of the eligible categories (breads and cereals, non-alcoholic beverages, fruits, etc.). Because restaurants are a gray area with respect to EBT, it’s always best to call ahead or ask before you purchase to make sure you don’t get stuck in a situation where you can’t pay. Good luck!
Are there any places in Maryland that take EBT? We are homeless but have access to a microwave. Just no refrigerator.
Brother inlaw tried to use ebt at subway in golden valley az.
They refused it and told him they do not take ebt at all.
Hi Nick, that’s correct! The Arizona Department of Economic Security lists no Subway in Golden Valley as accepting EBT. You can access the list of restaurants that accept EBT on their website.
wouldn’t mind knowing about subway where I live… Mountain City TN.
Hi Mike,
Due to the volume of comments we receive, we can’t answer individual questions. It is best to call your local Subway directly and ask if they take the EBT card.
I live in Utah. Just wanna make sure that subway really does take EBT.
Jenna,
Many Subway orders are eligible for EBT purchases, as long as they are cold and take out orders. I recommend calling ahead to your local Subway to make sure that they’re able to take EBT for those types of purchases. I hope this helps!
Hi I’m in Tucson, AZ and I Have Been Trying To Find Out What Places Actually Takes EBT?
I Have The Hot Meals Program.. just Haven’t Found Places That Accept It!! ((Please Help))
Hi Anthony,
Unfortunately, the listings for the Arizona Restaurant Meals Program don’t include any participating restaurants in Tucson. Even in states that have an extensive Restaurant Meals Program, it’s often up to the individual restaurant location whether or not to accept EBT. However, it may still be worth asking at local restaurants that have been known to accept EBT in other areas, in case the Tucson locations simply aren’t listed in the Restaurant Meals directory. Chains that sometimes accept EBT in Arizona include Subway, Jack in the Box, El Pollo Loco, Rally’s Hamburgers, Domino’s Pizza, Golden Corral, Southern Cuisine, CiCi’s Pizza, KFC, and Papa John’s. I hope this helps!
Can you ever eat the way you want
Hi Jerry,
I’m not quite sure what you mean. Cold, take-out orders from Subway are generally covered by EBT. Unfortunately, hot sandwiches or meals eaten in-store are not eligible to be paid for by EBT. You can take a cold sandwich to go and heat it up in a microwave if you have one available. I hope this helps, and please let me know if you have any further questions!
You guys are dumb. Buy a cold hamburger with ebt and use the microwave in the Gas Station to heat it up. Circle k for sure has a microwave in every single store. If you can’t find it ask the cashier. And for real? You want to know how clean a meal is? Have you worked at a fast food place? That’s as dirty as it gets.
Will, I worked in a gas station in Wisconsin for over three years and a decent amount of people do exactly that. They purchase a frozen sandwich or food, that is EBT eligible, and after paying for it ask to use our microwave. If you are looking for a hot meal and are homeless, this is one option. Also, in Wisconsin we have places homeless can go to get a hot meal- like a shelter or sometimes churches. I hope this helps someone out there. Hang in there; things will get better eventually.
I live in Buffalo, NY I am 63 years of age and every once in a while I would like to eat a meal that I don’t have to cook. I wouldn’t do it often because I love knowing what’s in my meal and if it was prepared in a nice clean environment. I think this matter might be something to speak about to our local leaders about or the 311 Call and Resolution Center on facebook, since all businesses have to be okayed by the Common Council before they can open. It’s food, it’s not cooked and it’s convenient.
They don’t accept EBT in my neighborhood in Manhattan, NYC :/
Does subway take ebt/snap in Georgia?
Hi Karen,
I wasn’t able to find any specific information about EBT for Subway locations in Georgia. Generally speaking, many Subway restaurants do accept EBT, but it does vary from one location to another. It looks like the only way to be sure will be to visit or contact your local Subway. You can get the contact information through the Subway location finder.
Our subway here in Orting, wa states they do not accept EBT? Why is that do you know?
Hi Amelia,
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find any specific information about the Subway in Orting, WA. You’d have to get in touch with the store directly to ask about the policies there. If you’re looking for the one on Whitesell St., the phone number is (360) 893-0388. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help!
What about carthage mo
Hi Whitney,
I wasn’t able to find out anything specific about your local Subway’s policies, but generally speaking, Subway does accept EBT so you should be good to go. If you’d like, you can always call to verify — the phone number for the Subway on Central Ave in Carthage, MO is 417-358-5984.
I am on Food Share in Wisconsin. I only have used my food stamp benefits for grocery purchases. If I were going to purchase anything at Subway, what is the big deal about taking it home and toasting it yourself in the oven? Seems to me that some are just too petty and expect everything to be done for them. We mostly cook at home but if we did get anything, we would take it home and cook it. EBT helps our family make ends meet. I work but my $11 an hour only goes so far with a family of five but it does help which is why we don’t abuse it or complain about the help. That would be ungrateful and rude.
I am also in WI. The only place I know take EBT is Papa Murphy’s. Its like a Subway but for pizza. Lol. All fresh ingredients. And you get to custom order your pizza. Granted its raw. But all you have to do is go home and cook it. Better than a frozen pizza if you ask me.
DamaMama,
You’re absolutely right! Most Papa Murphy’s locations accept payment via EBT in store (although not online). Thanks for letting our readers know!
Subways in WI accept ebt but not all locations. I’m in Milwaukee area
Hi Ttacy,
Thanks for sharing your experience. It’s very helpful for other readers in WI to have some confirmation here that they will be able to use EBT at some Subways, especially in these sorts of articles where restaurant policies can really vary between locations.
Why can’t we use EBT for hot foods. Poor people would like a hot meal once in a while too.
Buy food at the store, take it home and cook it. Voila! Hot food.
Not everyone like me has a home I live in my van. A hot meal would be great!
If you fall under homeless category you should be eligible for hot food program. There is a list of restaurants that will take your ebt SNAPS for hot food as long as your case is coded for hot food program.
Hi there!
You’re right! You may be eligible for hot food at certain restaurants if you are homeless. Check out this article on fast food places that accept the EBT card.
Would be nice to have a hot meal when you have no home. Its not all that simple for those of us like myself who are homeless.
The only “hot food” that I know that can be purchased is a 7-11 pizza. Technically, you buy it cold and they will cook it for you free just like there heat and go sandwiches. Hope this helps you out. Where I am currently, the wind chill is below zero. So when ignorant people make comments about going home to cook something in order to have a warm meal, maybe they don’t deserve SNAP in the first place!
Take food home and cook it? What happens when you are homeless and do not have the means to do so? Can I use your stove and oven? Didn’t think so!
Hahahaha… That would be too hard! Lol
well Linda, what if poor ppl don’t have a home to take it to or don’t have any means to make it HOT meal as you state, Not everyone has a way to make it hot
Jack in he box here in phoenix does but u have to be on the designated program for elderly or homeless. U will know if u call and ask or if ur ebt card gets declined or approved