What Fast Food Places Take EBT/Food Stamps/SNAP? Here’s the List

Woman eating a burger and fries at a fast food restaurant that takes EBT

You can only use an EBT card at approved restaurants in states that participate in the Restaurant Meals Program: Arizona, California, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, and Rhode Island.

Below, we have the list of fast food restaurants that accept EBT in these states, plus more information about how the Restaurant Meals Program works.

What Fast Food Places Accept EBT?

In most states, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) only allows you to use your EBT card to purchase food for preparation at home (as previously reported).

However, federal law permits states to extend SNAP, allowing the elderly, disabled, or homeless to buy hot meals at approved restaurants.[1]

Most states call this the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP),[1] and fast food restaurants often participate.

How Do Restaurant Meals Programs Work?

Restaurant Meals Programs consider that many people who qualify for EBT don’t have the means to take food home and/or cook it, so being able to buy only unprepared foods doesn’t always provide the nutrition they need.[1]

However, only a few states have extended their programs to allow people to purchase food at restaurants with EBT cards.

The USDA’s list of retailers that accept EBT cards usually doesn’t show the restaurants that accept EBT cards as part of an RMP; more information is available from your state benefits agency.

Restaurant Meal Programs are well-developed in California[2] and Arizona.[3]

Illinois,[4] Maryland,[5] Michigan,[6] and Rhode Island[7] have also introduced RMPs.

If you don’t live in and receive benefits from a state offering the Restaurant Meals Program, you can’t use your EBT card at restaurants (as previously reported).

While federal requirements allow you to use your EBT card at grocery stores in different states, RMP programs are state-managed due to their additional eligibility requirements.[8]

Here are the basics of each state’s program:

Arizona

California

  • Program name: CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program[9]
  • Eligibility: Must be an EBT recipient and also be either over age 60, disabled, homeless, or the spouse of someone who is over age 60 or disabled[9]
  • How to apply: Visit your county social services office or call (877) 847-3663
  • Find participating restaurants
  • Find out more

Illinois

Maryland

Michigan

Rhode Island

Fast Food Restaurants That Accept EBT

The following fast food restaurants accept EBT at select locations in states with RMPs.

Note that only approved locations of these restaurants accept EBT, not all locations. It’s best to contact the individual store before visiting, check with your benefits agency, or bring a backup payment method.

Note, as well, that each store’s EBT acceptance status is subject to change based on updates to the state’s program.

Burger King logo

Burger King

  • States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona,[10] California[11]

Carls Jr logo

Carl’s Jr.

  • States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona,[10] California[11]

Churchs logo

Church’s Chicken

  • States with locations accepting EBT: California[11]

Cicis logo

Cicis Pizza

  • States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona[10]

See our related research for more pizza places that take EBT.

Dairy Queen logo

Dairy Queen

  • States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona[10]

Del Taco logo

Del Taco

  • States with locations accepting EBT: California[11]

Dennys logo

Denny’s

  • States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona,[12] California[11]

Note: See our research on the Denny’s EBT policy.

Dominos logo

Domino’s

  • States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona,[10] California[11]

EEGEEs logo

eegee’s

  • States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona[10]

El Pollo Loco logo

El Pollo Loco

  • States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona,[10] California[11]

Fatburger logo

Fatburger

  • States with locations accepting EBT: California[11]

Firehouse Subs logo

Firehouse Subs

  • States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona[10]

Hungry Howies logo

Hungry Howie’s

  • States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona[10]

Jack in the Box logo

Jack In The Box

  • States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona,[10] California[11]

KFC logo

KFC

  • States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona,[10] California[11]

Krispy Krunchy Chicken logo

Krispy Krunchy Chicken

  • States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona[10], California[11]

Little Caesars Pizza logo

Little Caesars Pizza

  • States with locations accepting EBT: California[11]

McDonald's logo

McDonald’s

  • States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona,[10] California,[11] Michigan[13]

Papa Johns logo

Papa John’s

  • States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona[10], California[11]

Papa Murphys logo

Papa Murphy’s

  • States with locations accepting EBT: 36 states; since it offers “take and bake” pizzas that you prepare at home, most Papa Murphy’s locations accept EBT[14]

Pizza Hut logo

Pizza Hut

  • States with locations accepting EBT: California[11]

Note: See our dedicated research on using EBT at Pizza Hut.

Popeyes logo

Popeyes

  • States with locations accepting EBT: California[11]

Quiznos logo

Quiznos

  • States with locations accepting EBT: California[11]

Rallys logo

Rally’s

  • States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona,[10] California[11]

Subway logo

Subway

  • States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona,[10] California,[11] Rhode Island[15]

Note: You can’t use an EBT card to order ahead on Subway’s app. See more about using EBT at Subway.

Taco Bell logo

Taco Bell

  • States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona,[10] California[11]

Note: See our dedicated research on using EBT at Taco Bell.

Wendys logo

Wendy’s

  • States with locations accepting EBT: California[11]

Wingstop logo

Wingstop

  • States with locations accepting EBT: California[11]

Fast Food Restaurants That Don’t Accept EBT

As noted above, restaurants must not only opt-in to accept EBT but must receive approval from the government.

In the course of our research, we found that the following fast food places don’t accept EBT at any locations:

  • Arby’s
  • Biscuitville
  • Chick-fil-A
  • Chipotle Mexican Grill (See more about Chipotle’s EBT policy)
  • Cinnabon
  • Culver’s
  • Dunkin’
  • Einstein Bros. Bagels
  • Five Guys Burgers & Fries (See other payment options at Five Guys)
  • Hardee’s
  • In-N-Out Burger
  • Jimmy John’s
  • Panda Express
  • Panera Bread
  • Popeyes
  • Qdoba Mexican Grill (See other payment options at Qdoba)
  • Shake Shack
  • Sonic Drive-In
  • Starbucks
  • Whataburger
  • White Castle
  • Zaxby’s
  1. https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailer/restaurant-meals-program[][][]
  2. https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/calfresh/restaurant-meals-program[]
  3. https://des.az.gov/services/basic-needs/food-assistance/restaurant-meals-program[][][]
  4. https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/101/HB/10100HB3343.htm[][][]
  5. https://dhs.maryland.gov/documents/Supplemental%20Nutrition%20Assistance%20Program%20(SNAP)/Maryland%20Restaurants%20Meals%20Program%20Guidelines.docx.pdf[][][]
  6. https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/0,5885,7-339-71547_5527_104514—,00.html[][][]
  7. http://www.dhs.ri.gov/Programs/SNAPFoodAccessProject.php[][][][]
  8. https://ask.usda.gov/s/article/Can-I-buy-food-at-restaurants-with-Supplemental-Nutrition-Assistance-Program-benefits-For-SNAP-Clien[]
  9. https://www.cdss.ca.gov/rmp[][]
  10. https://dbmefaapolicy.azdes.gov/FAA1/baggage/MealsProgramRestaurants.pdf?time=1615933837258[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
  11. https://www.ebt.ca.gov/locator/index.html#/locator.page[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
  12. https://dbmefaapolicy.azdes.gov/FAA1/baggage/MealsProgramRestaurants.pdf?time=1668131272224[]
  13. https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/-/media/Project/Websites/mdhhs/Assistance-Programs/Food-Assistance/Restaurant-Meal-Program/MI-RMP-Restaurant-List.pdf?rev=228cda63f3464d86a9308f2236b749b1&hash=50802CEEDD02C0C71B80B3F81F8708BD[]
  14. https://www.papamurphys.com/faqs[]
  15. http://www.dhs.ri.gov/Documents/RestaurantMealsProgramFlyerJan2021.pdf[]

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14 comments - Comments are closed.


  • Deyanira

    Hi! I am a frequent client at subway and they DO ACCEPT EBT. Everything on the menu. Hot or cold. This article is not fake. Please read the imperative sections of this article which very clearly states it is at the franchise discretion if they will accept the form of payment.

  • patrick salazar

    Just went to subway they said never heard of it

    • First Quarter Finance logo
      First Quarter Finance | Kathleen Wilson

      Hi Patrick,
      It’s ultimately up to individual Subway stores if they want to accept EBT or not — looks like the store you went to is definitely one that has decided not to accept EBT.

  • Gunther

    It’s absolutely correct that whether or not you’ll be able to use EBT at a fast food place will depend on how your EBT card is FLAGGED. Odds are, if you have a home and a KITCHEN, you’ll be blocked from fast food and takeout.

    For anyone in LA county (specifically the south bay) for those who DO have this status, I’ve successfully ordered HOT meals at KFC, Little Caesar’s, and Jack-in-the-Box. Don’t bother with Carls Jr or McDonald’s here. NONE take EBT.

    • First Quarter Finance logo
      First Quarter Finance | Laura Bachmann

      Hi Gunther,

      Thanks for sharing. We appreciate hearing about your local experience, and it’s helpful for future readers — especially on topics like EBT, where specifics inevitably have significant local variation.

  • Monica H

    Some restaurant chains have limited locations that except EBT. For instance here in San Diego County, Ca..you can eat at Carl’s Jr in one part of the city and the other location does NOT accept it. You need to go to Cal fresh as website to see the list ,and my welfare caseworker gave me a copy for the WHOLE county!!

  • Mad Customer

    This is fake. I just went to McDonald’s and asked if they accepted EBT and they said no.

    • First Quarter Finance logo
      First Quarter Finance | Laura Bachmann

      Hi Mad,

      You’re right in that many McDonald’s won’t take EBT. Franchise locations don’t have to accept EBT, and most won’t. Also, EBT can only be used for a limited selection of items, so even at a McDonald’s that does take EBT, if you asked for a non-eligible item, you could be denied.

    • Tk

      I’m at mcdonalds right now and they said no and never heard of the card. On to burger king next

      • First Quarter Finance logo
        First Quarter Finance | Laura Bachmann

        Hi Tk,

        Good luck a Burger King, and thanks for sharing your experience at McDonald’s. McDonald’s is famous for being a highly franchised chain — over 80% of locations are franchised. And, the majority of these franchised locations may not take EBT, as they’re free to set payment policies and not take EBT. Your comments on McDonald’s are appreciated as they’ll help future readers figure out their chances before taking a trip to McDonald’s and trying to pay with EBT.

        • Scoley80

          The McDonald’s in Greeneville and Johnson city TN takes EBT for cold food items including salads

    • This really happened

      I am at McDonald’s and I just saw a person pay for their food with an EBT card – 1 sausage bisciut.

      • First Quarter Finance logo
        First Quarter Finance | Kathleen Wilson

        Thanks for sharing. We appreciate hearing about your local experience, and it’s helpful for future readers — especially on topics like EBT, where specifics inevitably have significant local variation.

  • Will

    First of all it should be noted that many states that allow ebt food to be used at fast food places limits those purchases to HOMELESS ONLY. Other states allow it for disabled, elderly, and homeless. In no cases can peopl use them if they are able bodied people who have homes where they can cook their own foods.

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