You can only use your EBT card at approved fast food restaurants in states that participate in the Restaurant Meals Program: Arizona, California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Rhode Island, and Virginia.
Below, I have the list of fast food places that accept EBT in these states, plus more information about how the Restaurant Meals Program works.
How the Restaurant Meals Program Works
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 elderly, disabled, or homeless recipients and their spouses to buy hot meals at approved restaurants.[1]
This program, designed to help those who have difficulty cooking meals, is called the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP),[1] and fast food restaurants often participate.
Those who qualify for the Restaurant Meals Program don’t have to fill out a separate application. If your case file shows that you qualify, your EBT card will automatically work at participating restaurants.[2][3]
However, if you have questions about your eligibility, you can always contact your local benefits agency for assistance.
Participating States
Not all states have extended their SNAP programs to allow people to purchase food at restaurants with EBT.
The states that have chosen to participate in the Restaurant Meals Program are:
- Arizona[4]
- California[5]
- Illinois[6]
- Maryland[7]
- Massachusetts[8]
- Michigan[9]
- Rhode Island[10]
- Virginia[11][12]
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.
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, and only SNAP recipients who live in that state can participate.[13]
The List
The following fast food restaurants accept EBT at approved locations in states with RMPs.
You can select your state’s name to find nearby locations that take EBT.
Keep in mind that each restaurant’s EBT acceptance status is subject to change based on updates to the state’s program.
It’s best to contact the individual store before visiting, check with your benefits agency, or bring a backup payment method.
Our list also focuses on chain restaurants; note that there may be additional local restaurants in your area that take EBT.
Burger King
Carl’s Jr.
- Participating states:
Church’s Texas Chicken
- Participating states:
Dairy Queen
Del Taco
- Participating states:
Denny’s
- Participating states:
See my dedicated research on using EBT at Denny’s.
El Pollo Loco
- Participating states:
Fatburger
- Participating states:
Firehouse Subs
Jack In The Box
- Participating states:
KFC
- Participating states:
Krispy Krunchy Chicken
McDonald’s
Popeyes
- Participating states:
Rally’s
- Participating states:
Subway
- Participating states:
See my research on using EBT at Subway.
Taco Bell
- Participating states:
See my related research on Taco Bell’s EBT policy.
Wendy’s
- Participating states:
Wingstop
- Participating states:
For more SNAP restaurant options, see my list of pizza places that take EBT.
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 my research, I found that the following fast food places don’t accept EBT:[14][15][18][7][19][20][17][12]
- Arby’s
- Biscuitville
- Chick-fil-A
- Chipotle (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
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.
Just went to subway they said never heard of it
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.
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.
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.
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!!
This is fake. I just went to McDonald’s and asked if they accepted EBT and they said no.
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.
I’m at mcdonalds right now and they said no and never heard of the card. On to burger king next
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.
The McDonald’s in Greeneville and Johnson city TN takes EBT for cold food items including salads
I am at McDonald’s and I just saw a person pay for their food with an EBT card – 1 sausage bisciut.
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.
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.