Does McDonalds Accept EBT?

Does McDonalds accept EBT? The answer is more complicated than you might think. As one of the most popular and affordable fast-food chains in existence, McDonalds feeds millions of people every day and their locations are seemingly everywhere. If you’ve ever wanted to spend your EBT dollars at a McDonalds, here’s what you need to know.

Does McDonalds accept EBT?

It depends. Some EBT users in some areas may be able to purchase McDonalds with their EBT cards, but it really depends on where you live and which specific benefits you are eligible for.

In order to determine if you are one of the lucky few who are eligible to buy food at McDonalds with food stamps, you’ll need to understand how EBT works and the differences between the programs that can all put funds on your EBT card.

Can I use EBT cash benefits at McDonalds?

If you receive cash benefits through a program like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), then you may be able to use those cash benefits at your local McDonalds. If you see someone ordering fast food with an EBT card, it is very possible that they are using cash benefits instead of food benefits to make that purchase.

That is because there are far fewer restrictions on the cash side of EBT. However, it is also much harder to qualify for cash benefits than food benefits. That’s why only one million households receive cash benefits but over 38 million people receive SNAP benefits.

Does McDonalds accept food stamps?

In some cases, yes! The Restaurant Meals Program allows certain people who live in certain areas to purchase restaurant meals with their food stamps (SNAP EBT) benefits. In order to be eligible for the RMP, you must live in a participating area and be elderly, disabled or homeless.

Although the Restaurant Meals Program is authorized by the federal food stamps law, individual states can choose whether or not to authorize the RMP in their area. Currently, there are only a handful of states that allow elderly, disabled and homeless people to purchase fast food and restaurant meals with their food benefits. In California, the decision is left to individual counties.

Where can I use food stamps at McDonalds?

If you live in an area with the Restaurant Meals Program and you are eligible to use it, then you need to realize that each individual McDonalds location can decide whether or not to accept EBT. Not every McDonalds location will accept it.

The exact locations change frequently but you can always find an up-to-date list of participating states and restaurants in this list.

At the time of this writing, we were able to identify 140 McDonalds locations that accept SNAP EBT benefits. They are primarily located in Arizona and California, so if you are wondering “Does McDonalds accept EBT in California?” or “Does McDonalds accept EBT in Arizona?” then you are in luck!

• McDonalds #27822 (9930 W. Mcdowell Road in Avondale, AZ)
• McDonalds #32787 (12500 I-40 West in Belmont, AZ)
• McDonalds #24347 (2250 Hwy 95 in Bullhead City, AZ)
• McDonalds #31782 (600 Hwy 95 in Bullhead City, AZ)
• McDonalds #31186 (29555 N Cave Creek Road in Cave Creek, AZ)
• McDonalds #11552 (990 N Arizona Ave in Chandler, AZ)
• McDonalds #25154 (2540 W Chandler Blvd in Chandler, AZ)
• McDonalds #26543 (1090 E. Pecos Rd in Chandler, AZ)
• McDonalds #13643 (5900 W. Chandler in Chandler, AZ)
• McDonalds #32753 (6990 W. Sundust Rd in Chandler, AZ)
• McDonalds #11340 (1900 W Warner Rd in Chandler, AZ)
• McDonalds #31376 (1175 S Arizona Ave in Chandler, AZ)
• McDonalds #32178 (12900 W Thunderbird Road in El Mirage, AZ)
• McDonalds #16225 (4754 S Hwy 95 in Fort Mohave, AZ)
• McDonalds #24266 (47 N. McQueen Rd in Gilbert, AZ)
• McDonalds #15517 (825 W Warner Rd in Gilbert, AZ)
• McDonalds #16281 (5060 W Cactus Road in Glendale, AZ)
• McDonalds #17895 (7515 W Bell Rd in Glendale, AZ)
• McDonalds #22738 (6002 N 59Th Ave in Glendale, AZ)
• McDonalds #25112 (8325 W Glendale Ave in Glendale, AZ)
• McDonalds #2709 (6762 W Camelback Rd in Glendale, AZ)
• McDonalds #29566 (5842 W Olive Ave in Glendale, AZ)
• McDonalds #7381 (16874 N 59th Ave in Glendale, AZ)
• McDonalds #4076 (1608 E Ash St in Globe, AZ)
• McDonalds #23545 (Hwy 160 & Hwy 180 in Kayenta, AZ)
• McDonalds #2967 (3264 Andy Devine Ave in Kingman, AZ)
• McDonalds #30877 (3396 Stockton Hill Rd in Kingman, AZ)
• McDonalds #33234 (3431 Stockton Hill Ave in Kingman, AZ)
• McDonalds #32685 (6501 Showplace Ave in Lake Havasu City, AZ)
• McDonalds #5526 (100 Swanson Ave in Lake Havasu City, AZ)
• McDonalds #19370 (1955 S. Stapley in Mesa, AZ)
• McDonalds #31780 (909 N. Dobson Rd in Mesa, AZ)
• McDonalds #31036 (857 N. Dobson Rd in Mesa, AZ)
• McDonalds #31819 (1004 W Haul Rd in Page, AZ)
• McDonalds #12179 (990 Riverside Dr in Parker, AZ)
• McDonalds #5783 (101 S Beeline Hwy in Payson, AZ)
• McDonalds #11018 (4019 E. Chandler Blvd in Phoenix, AZ)
• McDonalds #17661 (1255 E. Chandler Blvd in Phoenix, AZ)
• McDonalds #19131 (3721 E Thomas Rd in Phoenix, AZ)
• McDonalds #30878 (7575 W. Lower Buckeye Rd in Phoenix, AZ)
• McDonalds #10679 (650 E Bell Road in Phoenix, AZ)
• McDonalds #10921 (4430 E. Thomas Rd in Phoenix, AZ)
• McDonalds #21431 (626 W Union Hills Drive in Phoenix, AZ)
• McDonalds #23310 (2845 W Thunderbird Road in Phoenix, AZ)
• McDonalds #29378 (2020 N. 75Th Ave. in Phoenix, AZ)
• McDonalds #31464 (1825 W Bell Road in Phoenix, AZ)
• McDonalds #4497 (1851 W Bell Road in Phoenix, AZ)
• McDonalds #7067 (2225 W Deer Valley Road in Phoenix, AZ)
• McDonalds #7784 (1850 S 7Th St in Phoenix, AZ)
• McDonalds #23290 (6005 S Central Ave in Phoenix, AZ)
• McDonalds #25250 (2430 Baseline Rd in Phoenix, AZ)
• McDonalds #2531 (10230 N 32Nd St in Phoenix, AZ)
• McDonalds #26394 (3130 E Broadway Rd in Phoenix, AZ)
• McDonalds #6410 (125 N 24Th St in Phoenix, AZ)
• McDonalds #7816 (926 E Indian School Rd in Phoenix, AZ)
• McDonald’s #10459 (1241 W Main St in Quartzite, AZ)
• McDonald’s #4440 (1830 W Thatcher Blvd in Safford, AZ)
• McDonald’s #34203 (18241 N Pima Road in Scottsdale, AZ)
• McDonald’s #36150 (10825 N Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale, AZ)
• McDonald’s #6045 (225 W White Mountain Rd in Showlow, AZ)
• McDonald’s #13035 (380 S Main St in Snowflake, AZ)
• McDonald’s #29371 (inside Walmart at 13770 W Bell Road in Surprise, AZ)
• McDonald’s #31461 (16547 W Bell Road in Surprise, AZ)
• McDonald’s #32405 (14111 N Prasada Gateway Avenue in Surprise, AZ)
• McDonald’s #34450 (15525 W Greenway Road in Surprise, AZ)
• McDonald’s #21151 (475 W. Guadalupe in Tempe, AZ)
• McDonald’s #11664 (1205 S Rural Ave in Tempe, AZ)
• McDonald’s #10384 (1740 E. Elliot in Tempe, AZ)
• McDonald’s #18544 (9955 S. Priest Dr in Tempe, AZ)
• McDonald’s #22111 (1785 E University Dr in Tempe, AZ)
• McDonald’s #4909 (3255 S 48Th St in Tempe, AZ)
• McDonald’s #10640 (195 S Main St in Tuba City, AZ)
• McDonald’s #1035 (1711 E Speedway Blvd in Tucson, AZ)
• McDonald’s #20575 (15885 N Oracle Rd in Tucson, AZ)
• McDonald’s #23366 (3856 E Speedway Blvd in Tucson, AZ)
• McDonald’s #17571 (Hwy 264 in Window Rock, AZ)

• McDonalds (6300 Morro Rd in Atascadero, CA)
• McDonalds #32223 (1492 Second St in Beaumont, CA)
• McDonalds (430314 Null Bldg in Camp Pendleton, CA)
• McDonalds #27834 (67555 East Palm Canyon Dr in Cathedral City, CA)
• McDonalds #12307 (31-545 Date Palm Dr in Cathedral City, CA)
• McDonalds #31948 (83131 Ave 48 in Coachella, CA)
• McDonalds (50090 Harrison St in Coachella, CA)
• McDonalds #6633 (14280 Palm Dr in Desert Hot Springs, CA)
• McDonalds (7740 Firestone Blvd in Downey, CA)
• McDonalds (9475 Firestone Blvd in Downey, CA)
• McDonalds #33226 (12508 Limonite Ave in Eastvale, CA)
• McDonalds (1064 N El Camino Real in Encinitas, CA)
• McDonalds #26720 (340 W Mission Ave in Escondido, CA)
• McDonalds (3400 Del Lago Blvd in Escondido, CA)
• McDonalds #30904 (1231 S Sanderson Ave in Hemet, CA)
• McDonalds (2667 Stauson Blvd in Huntington Park, CA)
• McDonalds #1870 (81-544 Hwy 111 in Indo, CA)
• McDonalds #32618 (42550 Jackson St in Indio, CA)
• McDonalds #37287 (82491 Ave 42 in Indo, CA)
• McDonalds (8045 Fletcher Pkwy in La Mesa, CA)
• McDonalds #13695 (78-962 Hwy 111 in La Quinta, CA)
• McDonalds #30769 (79-295 Hwy 111 in La Quinta, CA)
• McDonalds (1830 Long Beach Blvd in Long Beach, CA)
• McDonalds (6407 E Spring St in Long Beach, CA)
• McDonalds (11800 Wilmington Ave in Los Angeles, CA)
• McDonalds #11549 (24440 Alessandro Blvd in Moreno Valley, CA)
• McDonalds #31236 (26200 Iris Ave in Moreno Valley, CA)
• McDonalds #35500 (23831 Sunnymead Blvd in Moreno Valley, CA)
• McDonalds #5883 (12371 Perris Blvd in Moreno Valley, CA)
• McDonalds #29763 (39196 Winchester in Murrieta, CA)
• McDonalds (1630 Highland Ave in National City, CA)
• McDonalds #6773 (2140 E Plaza Blvd in National City, CA)
• McDonalds #36705 (78-365 Varner Rd in Palm Desert, CA)
• McDonalds #3554 (72-7525 Hwy 111 in Palm Desert, CA)
• McDonalds #14162 (1717 East Visto Chino Ste D in Palm Springs, CA)
• McDonalds #31577 (5601 E Ramon Rd in Palm Springs, CA)
• McDonalds #32041 (2465 E Palm Canyon Rd Bldg 13 in Palm Springs, CA)
• McDonalds (186 Niblick Rd in Paso Robles, CA)
• McDonalds (1859 Ramada Dr in Paso Robles, CA)
• McDonalds (2715 Black Oak Dr in Paso Robles, CA)
• McDonalds #17438 (64 E Ramona Expressway in Perris, CA)
• McDonalds #31899 (1800 N Perris Blvd in Perris, CA)
• McDonalds #2439 (10141 Magnolia Ave in Rancho Mirage, CA)
• McDonald’s #25647 (34101 Monterey Ave in Rancho Mirage, CA)
• McDonald’s #25687 (7474 Indiana Ave in Riverside, CA)
• McDonald’s #7804 (2095 Van Buren Blvd in Riverside, CA)
• McDonald’s #26187 (5010 Van Buren Blvd in Riverside, CA)
• McDonald’s #962 (5425 Arlington Ave in Riverside, CA)
• McDonald’s #36735 (10952 Magnolia Ave in Riverside, CA)
• McDonalds #37102 (2246 Iowa Ave in Riverside, CA)
• McDonalds #5476 (8875 Limonite Ave in Riverside, CA)
• McDonalds #12252 (2891 Canyon Springs Pkwy in Riverside, CA)
• McDonalds #42780 (10595 Tierrasanta Blvd in San Diego, CA)
• McDonalds #5416 (12808 Rancho Penasquitos Blvd in San Diego, CA)
• McDonalds (1515 Euclid Ave in San Diego, CA)
• McDonalds #36374 (16440 Bernardo Center in San Diego, CA)
• McDonalds (6945 Linda Vista Rd in San Diego, CA)
• McDonalds #13096 (611 N State St in San Jacinto, CA)
• McDonalds #31389 (1816 S San Jacinto in San Jacinto, CA)
• McDonalds (2599 Cherry Ave in Signal Hill, CA)
• McDonalds #18171 (40465 Winchester Rd in Temecula, CA)
• McDonalds #20164 (31583 Hwy 79 S in Temecula, CA)
• McDonalds #36267 (30580 Rancho California Rd in Temecula, CA)
• McDonalds #7698 (28100 Jefferson Ave in Temecula, CA)

Why aren’t there more McDonalds locations that accept EBT?

Like we described earlier, the Restaurant Meals Program is part of the federal food stamps law but it has to be approved by each individual state (and sometimes county). Many areas have chosen not to authorize the RMP because they are afraid it will encourage abuse of the benefits.

In areas where the RMP is authorized, each individual McDonalds location must be approved to accept EBT benefits. Since many McDonalds locations are owned by individual franchisees, there are a lot of decision-makers involved and it requires a lot of paperwork. Some may not realize that it’s something they can offer, and others may decide that it just isn’t worth the hassle.

Why would McDonald’s accept EBT?

The Restaurant Meals Program is designed to help people who are elderly, disabled or homeless eat whole meals that they otherwise could not prepare at home.

It makes a lot of sense from a financial and safety perspective. If someone does not have a kitchen to store food, buying all of the ingredients for a meal can be far more expensive and wasteful than picking up a value menu burger. For seniors or disabled people who cannot safely prepare meals at home, picking up a burger can keep them safe and well-fed.

Some people get very upset about the Restaurant Meals Program, but it’s important to remember that the program is limited only to those who cannot prepare their own meals at home. Not everyone who gets food stamps can use their benefits there even if the location accepts EBT.

What else can I buy with food stamps?

Food benefits, also known as SNAP or food stamps, are different than cash benefits even though the funds are sent on the same EBT card. There are a lot of rules governing what can be purchased with SNAP benefits.

For example, you can only use SNAP funds to purchase eligible food items. These typically include:

• Fruits 
• Vegetables
• Grains
• Cereals
• Meat
• Fish
• Poultry
• Dairy
• Seeds or food-producing plants

These limitations are meant to ensure that families can access healthy foods. However, it also means that, with a few exceptions, SNAP funds cannot be used for the following items:

• Alcohol
• Tobacco
• Food designed for immediate consumption
• Vitamins
• Medicine
• Household items
• Nonfood items

As you can see, your EBT card is pretty limited with just SNAP funds. The program is designed to encourage people to shop at grocery stores and prepare their own meals, as opposed to buying less healthy, ready-made food.

Save Money & Get Free Stuff!

Nicole Thelin

Nicole is the founder and lead researcher of Low Income Relief. After a personal experience with poverty and homelessness following her husband's sudden medical discharge from the U.S. Army, Nicole discovered the life-changing impact of community resources. This experience ignited her passion for empowering others to navigate similar crises. Nicole launched her writing career at age 16, working for various newspapers and publications. Her commitment to in-depth research and accessible content has been recognized by Google for Publishers and other industry leaders. For over 20 years, she has applied her investigative skills to uncover the most helpful, up-to-date information on benefits programs and community resources, ensuring Low Income Relief maintains the most extensive resource databases available.