William Lipovsky
You can use your Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card to buy seafood at your local grocery store, and several popular seafood markets across the U.S. also accept EBT.
Specialty seafood markets like the Boston Public Market and the Portland Fish Market allow recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to buy fresh-caught seafood with EBT.
EBT cards can be used to purchase fresh, frozen, or packaged seafood items (as previously reported) — but usually not hot or prepared foods, such as meals at a seafood restaurant.
There are exceptions in certain states under the Restaurant Meals Program, but of the seafood restaurant chains I contacted, only a few Long John Silver’s locations participate in this program.[1][2]
We list the seafood places that take EBT below — plus those that don’t, so you’ll know before you go.
The List
We confirmed that each of the following seafood places accepts EBT by contacting their stores and checking the SNAP retailer locator.
Boston Public Market
- Location: Boston, MA[3]
- What it offers: An indoor market with vendors selling a variety of products and foods, including local seafood[3]
- Open: Year-round from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays[4]
Jersey City Fish Stand
- Location: Jersey City, NJ[5]
- What it offers: Sustainable, local fresh and frozen seafood, including fish, lobster, and shrimp[5][6]
- Hours: Year-round from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays; closed on Sundays[5]
John Yi Seafood
- Location: Philadelphia, PA[7]
- What it offers: Fish (farmed and wild-caught), shellfish, tuna, salmon, and more[7]
- Hours: Year-round from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays[8]
Long John Silver’s
- Location: Has restaurants nationwide but only accepts EBT at select locations in California[9][10]
- What it offers: Seafood-based meals including fish and chips, fish sandwiches, and fish tacos[11]
- Hours: Vary by location[12]
Pike Place Fish Market
- Location: Seattle, WA[13]
- What it offers: Fresh seafood including crabs, salmon, and halibut[13]
- Hours: Year-round from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily[14]
Portland Fish Market
- Location: Portland, OR[15]
- What it offers: A variety of wild-caught fish, crab meat, shrimp, oysters, salmon, and more[16]
- Hours: Year-round from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily[15]
Saltwater Seafood Market
- Location: Raleigh, NC[17]
- What it offers: Fresh and frozen seafood, including fish, crab, clams, lobster, and more;[18][19] note that you can only use your EBT card at the market, not the restaurant.[20]
- Hours: Year-round from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays; closed on Mondays[17]
If none of these businesses are local to you, see the list of stores that accept EBT.
Seafood Places That Don’t Accept EBT
In the course of my research, I found that the following seafood places do not accept EBT:
- Bonefish Grill[21][22]
- Captain D’s[21][23]
- Carolina Fish Market[21][24]
- Conrad’s Crabs & Seafood Market[21][25]
- The District Fishwife[21][26]
- Joe’s Crab Shack[21][27]
- Lobster Place[21][28]
- Mac’s Seafood[21][29]
- Monahan’s Seafood Market[21][30]
- Red Lobster[21][31]
- San Pedro Fish Market[21][32]
- Santa Monica Seafood Market & Cafe[21][33]
- Seattle Fish Guys[21][34]
- St. Paul Fish Company[21][35]
