Except for take-and-bake pizzas at Papa Murphy’s, you can only use EBT at pizza places if you live in a state that has a Restaurant Meals Program (RMP).
RMPs are state-run and provide additional assistance to SNAP recipients who are also elderly, homeless, or disabled. You must qualify for the program seperately in addition to qualifying for SNAP.[1]
Pizza places that participate in RMPs in select states include Domino’s, Hungry Howie’s, Papa John’s, and Pizza Hut. For more details, see below.
About the Restaurant Meals Program
The Restaurant Meals Program allows select recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to purchase hot foods from restaurants, which usually aren’t eligible for EBT (as previously reported).
Only a few states participate in the Restaurant Meals Program:[1]
- Arizona
- California
- Illinois
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Rhode Island
- Virginia
In these states, SNAP recipients who are older than 60, disabled, or homeless may qualify for the RMP.[1] The program is designed to assist those who are unable to cook at home or have difficulty doing so.
Note that if you qualify for the Restaurant Meals Program, you can’t use your EBT card at out-of-state restaurants (as previously reported).
For more information about the Restaurant Meals Program, see our list of fast food restaurants that take EBT.
EBT Restaurant Threshold
If you don’t qualify for an RMP, you may still be able to purchase restaurant-style food using your EBT card from retailers that fall under the “restaurant threshold.”
The USDA defines “restaurant” as any place that receives more than 50% of its total sales from food it cooks/heats on-site for customers to eat there or take as carryout.
If the majority of a retailer’s sales come from food that the customer must take home and cook themselves, it falls under the “restaurant threshold” and might qualify as a SNAP-approved retailer.[2]
As it relates to pizza places, take-and-bake pizza shops may accept EBT cards if they submit sales documentation to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service to show that they don’t exceed the restaurant threshold.
The List
The following pizza places accept EBT at select locations either by falling below the restaurant threshold or participating in the Restaurant Meals Program.
We confirmed this information with customer service representatives and each state’s roster of participating RMP restaurants.
Our list is in order from the most to the fewest EBT-approved locations.
Note: RMP-approved restaurants change regularly and may include additional local pizza places. Contact your local benefits agency for full details on where you can and can’t use your EBT card.
Papa Murphy’s
- Falls under restaurant threshold? Yes[3]
- Participates in RMP? No[3]
- Eligible states: Most locations; Papa Murphy’s has restaurants in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.[4]
- Find a location
Pizza Hut
- Falls under restaurant threshold? No[2]
- Participates in RMP? Yes; see our dedicated research on the Pizza Hut EBT policy.
- Eligible states: California[5]
- Find a participating location
Domino’s
- Falls under restaurant threshold? No[2]
- Participates in RMP? Yes; see our dedicated research on the Domino’s EBT policy.
- Eligible states: California[6]
- Find a participating location
Hungry Howie’s
- Falls under restaurant threshold? No[2]
- Participates in RMP? Yes[7]
- Eligible states: Arizona[7]
- Find a participating location
Papa John’s
- Falls under restaurant threshold? No[2]
- Participates in RMP? Yes[6][8]
- Eligible states: California[6]
- Find a participating location
Captain Tony’s Pizza and Pasta
- Falls under restaurant threshold? No[2]
- Participates in RMP? Yes[6]
- Eligible states: California[6]
- Find a participating location
Giant Pizza King
- Falls under restaurant threshold? No[2]
- Participates in RMP? Yes[9]
- Eligible states: California[9]
- Find a participating location
Little Caesars
- Falls under restaurant threshold? No[2]
- Participates in RMP? Yes; see our dedicated research on the Little Caesars EBT policy.
- Eligible states: California[6]
- Find a participating location
Pizza King
- Falls under restaurant threshold? No[2]
- Participates in RMP? Yes[6]
- Eligible states: California[6]
- Find a participating location
Chico’s Pizza
- Falls under restaurant threshold? No[2]
- Participates in RMP? Yes[10]
- Eligible states: California[10]
- Find a participating location
Ameci Pizza Kitchen
- Falls under restaurant threshold? No[2]
- Participates in RMP? Yes[6]
- Eligible states: California[6]
- Find a participating location
Dominguez Pizza
- Falls under restaurant threshold? No[2]
- Participates in RMP? Yes[6]
- Eligible states: California[6]
- Find a participating location
La Pizza Loca
- Falls under restaurant threshold? No[2]
- Participates in RMP? Yes[6]
- Eligible states: California[6]
- Find a participating location
Big Al’s Pizza
- Falls under restaurant threshold? No[2]
- Participates in RMP? Yes[6]
- Eligible states: California[6]
- Find a participating location
Valentino’s Pizza
- Falls under restaurant threshold? No[2]
- Participates in RMP? Yes[6]
- Eligible states: California[6]
- Find a participating location
Goody’s Pizza
- Falls under restaurant threshold? No[2]
- Participates in RMP? Yes[6]
- Eligible states: California[6]
- Find a participating location
PizzaMan Dan’s
- Falls under restaurant threshold? No[2]
- Participates in RMP? Yes[11]
- Eligible states: California[11]
- Find a participating location
New York Pizza Kitchen
- Falls under restaurant threshold? No[2]
- Participates in RMP? Yes[10]
- Eligible states: California[10]
- Find a participating location
Irving Pizza
- Falls under restaurant threshold? No[2]
- Participates in RMP? Yes[10]
- Eligible states: California[10]
- Find a participating location
Milan Pizza
- Falls under restaurant threshold? No[2]
- Participates in RMP? Yes[10]
- Eligible states: California[10]
- Find a participating location
Piara Pizza
- Falls under restaurant threshold? No[2]
- Participates in RMP? Yes[11]
- Eligible states: California[11]
- Find a participating location
PizzaRev
- Falls under restaurant threshold? No[2]
- Participates in RMP? Yes[8]
- Eligible states: California[8]
- Find a participating location
Red Maple Pizza
- Falls under restaurant threshold? No[2]
- Participates in RMP? Yes[8]
- Eligible states: California[8]
- Find a participating location
Federal Hill Pizza
- Falls under restaurant threshold? No[2]
- Participates in RMP? Yes[12]
- Eligible states: Rhode Island[12]
- Find a participating location
Jimmy and Joe’s Pizzeria
- Falls under restaurant threshold? No[2]
- Participates in RMP? Yes[13]
- Eligible states: Arizona[13]
- Find a participating location