William Lipovsky
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
- Program name: Restaurant Meals Program[3]
- Eligibility: Must be an EBT cardholder and also be either over age 60, disabled, or homeless[3]
- How to apply: Use the Health-e-Arizona Plus application for benefits.
- Find participating restaurants
- Find out more
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
- Program name: SNAP Restaurant Meals Program[4]
- Eligibility: Those who receive EBT and are elderly, disabled, or homeless, as well as their spouses[4]
- How to apply: Fill out the Application for Benefits Eligibility.
- Find participating restaurants
- Find out more
Maryland
- Program name: Restaurant Meals Program[5]
- Eligibility: Those who receive SNAP benefits and are 60 years old or older, disabled, or homeless, as well as their spouses[5]
- How to apply: At your local benefits office or the Maryland Department of Human Service Benefits Portal
- Find participating restaurants
- Find out more
Michigan
- Program name: Restaurant Meal Program[6]
- Eligibility: Must receive food assistance program benefits and be age 60 or older, disabled, or homeless[6]
- How to apply: Online at the MI Bridges website
- Find participating restaurants
- Find out more
Rhode Island
- Program name: SNAP Restaurant Meals Program[7]
- Eligibility: Must be an EBT recipient who is also over age 60, disabled, or homeless[7]
- Where available: Central Falls, Cranston, Pawtucket, Providence, Westerly, and Woonsocket[7]
- How to apply: You can apply online or print and mail in the application. See the Eat Better Today application page.
- Find participating restaurants
- Find out more
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
Carl’s Jr.
Church’s Chicken
- States with locations accepting EBT: California[11]
Cicis Pizza
- States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona[10]
See our related research for more pizza places that take EBT.
Dairy Queen
- States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona[10]
Del Taco
- States with locations accepting EBT: California[11]
Denny’s
Note: See our research on the Denny’s EBT policy.
Domino’s
eegee’s
- States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona[10]
El Pollo Loco
Fatburger
- States with locations accepting EBT: California[11]
Firehouse Subs
- States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona[10]
Hungry Howie’s
- States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona[10]
Jack In The Box
KFC
Krispy Krunchy Chicken
Little Caesars Pizza
- States with locations accepting EBT: California[11]
McDonald’s
Papa John’s
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
- States with locations accepting EBT: California[11]
Note: See our dedicated research on using EBT at Pizza Hut.
Popeyes
- States with locations accepting EBT: California[11]
Quiznos
- States with locations accepting EBT: California[11]
Rally’s
Subway
Note: You can’t use an EBT card to order ahead on Subway’s app. See more about using EBT at Subway.
Taco Bell
Note: See our dedicated research on using EBT at Taco Bell.
Wendy’s
- States with locations accepting EBT: California[11]
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
Katie Spence
Sonya Bateman
Cathy Desmet
Erika Crawford
Lindsey Desmet
Loren Eaton
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.