Fast food restaurants that accept EBT?! It’s true, folks. This is fresh from the fact-checker! If you’ve ever wondered if you can use your EBT benefits at fast food restaurants, the answer is yes… but only in certain circumstances.
Since the option to offer a Restaurant Meal Program is left to the states, we’ve researched each state to find out if YOU can use your food stamps at local restaurants!
Alabama doesn’t offer the Restaurant Meals Program but they DO offer free U-Pick Strawberry farms, $5 spay/neuter pet surgeries and more!
Alaska offers museum discounts, dollar doubling programs at Farmer’s Markets and more… but no Restaurant Meals Program. 🙁
Arizona allows disabled, elderly and homeless SNAP recipients to participate in the Restaurant Meals Program.
As of March 2017, eligible clients can use your SNAP benefits at the following fast food restaurants that accept EBT in Arizona:
- Burger Shoppe (Phoenix)
- Carls Jr.
- CiCi’s Pizza (Phoenix)
- Dairy Queen (Phoenix)
- Denny’s (Phoenix)
- Dominos Pizza
- El Pollo Loco
- Fat Sub LLC (Lake Havasu City)
- Golden Corral (Mesa)
- Gyros & Burgers Restaurant(Glendale)
- Jack in the Box
- KFC
- Moon Light Family Restaurant (Phoenix)
- Papa Johns Pizza
- Rally’s Hamburgers (Yuma)
- Subway
- Taco Bell
- Take or Bake Pizza (Glendale)
In order to qualify, every member of the household must meet ONE of the following requirements. Not all household members have to meet the same requirement.
- Age 60+
- Homeless (does not have a fixed/regular nighttime residence)
- Disabled (receiving Social Security, Railroad Retirement benefits, VA or other disability payments)
Arkansas allows you to use food stamps at farmers’ markets and community supported agriculture (CSA) programs, but not restaurants.
California offers the Restaurant Meals Program in many different counties! Each county makes their own rules but you can find a county-by-county list of restaurants that accept EBT in California by clicking here!
Restaurants that accept EBT include:
- Burger King
- Carl’s Jr.
- Church’s Chicken
- Del Taco
- Denny’s
- Domino’s Pizza
- Great Steaks
- Jamba Juice
- KFC
- Pizza Hut
- Subway
- Wienerschnitzel
- Click here for the rest!
Colorado offers some amazing discounts on museum admission (including a $10 per YEAR family membership to WOW! Children’s Museum) and other benefits… but no Restaurant Meals Program.
Connecticut offers free and cheap museum admission deals and other benefits… but they do not offer the Restaurant Meals Program.
Delaware will give you a State Parks Pass for $10, pro bono legal services and other discounted memberships… but no fast food with your EBT card.
Florida offers a limited version of the Restaurant Meals Program. This program is only available to the homeless residents of Alachua county.
Qualifying SNAP recipients can use their benefits at the following fast food restaurants that accept EBT in Alachua County:
- KFC
- Pizza Hut
- Taco Bell
Georgia invites you to explore free museums, enjoy organic food deliveries and more… but the state does not offer a Restaurant Meals Program.
Hawaii allows disabled, homeless or elderly SNAP recipients and their spouses can use their benefits at fast food restaurants that accept EBT. Information about this program is incredibly limited. I was only able to find a reference to it in this Hawaii.gov document.
Idaho does not offer a Restaurant Meals Program but they do offer other benefits, like discounted spay/neuter service, weatherization assistance and discounted museum programs!
Illinois invites you to explore Shedd Aquarium (FREE), Adler Planetarium ($1/person) and dozens of other venues for free or very cheap… but they don’t let you buy fast food with your EBT card.
Indiana offers lots of museum discounts, discounted YMCA memberships and more… but no Restaurant Meals Program.
Iowa ended their Restaurant Meals Program in February 2001. However, you can still get huge museum discounts, dollar-doubling at farmer’s markets and maybe even free hunting/fishing licenses!
Kansas will double your dollars at farmer’s markets, provide recreation scholarships and more… but no fast food with your EBT card.
Kentucky doesn’t offer the Restaurant Meals Program but they do have a discounted museum!
Louisiana doesn’t offer the Restaurant Meals Program but they do offer museum discounts, CSA coop discounts and more!
Maine offers museum discounts, free farmer’s market produce and more to EBT card holders… but they don’t let you use your EBT card at restaurants.
Maryland will give you discounted admission to three museums, double your money at farmer’s markets and more… but no restaurants with your EBT card.
Massachusetts has some excellent programs for EBT recipients! You can get discounts at over a dozen museums, participate in the Healthy Incentives Program and more! Unfortunately, they do not offer a Restaraunt Meals Program.
Michigan has, unfortunately, discontinued their Restaurant Meals Program. Although you can no longer buy Church’s Chicken, McDonald’s or Mr. T’s BBQ with EBT, you can still get more than 10 museum discounts (including FREE memberships to Great Lake’s Children’s Museum) and more!
Minnesota offers great museum discounts, discounted YMCA membership and more… but no restaurant programs.
Mississippi doesn’t participate in the RMP but they do offer museum discounts and other benefits.
Missouri will allow you to take free college classes but they won’t let you spend your food stamps at restaurants.
Montana will double your money at community farms, provide museum discounts and more… but they do not participate in RMP.
Nebraska offers sliding-scale medical and dental services, free museum memberships and more! Hoewever, they do not participate in any restaurant programs.
Nevada will let you shop at farmer’s markets and CSA programs but not any fast food venues.
New Hampshire can help you save money on your power bill, provide discount veterinary care and more… but they don’t participate in any RMP programs.
New Jersey can help EBT cardholders take care of their pets cheaper… but they won’t let you spend those food stamps dollars at restaurants.
New Mexico provides free museum memberships, double up food dollars programs and more… but no restaurant meals programs.
New York has some absolutely unbelievable benefits for EBT cardholders… but they still won’t let you spend your food stamps dollars at restaurants.
North Carolina get free fishing licences and discounted museum entry… but NC doesn’t offer an RMP program.
North Dakota offers help with prescriptions, energy costs and more… but they won’t let you buy restaurant meals with that EBT card.
Ohio offers discounts at nearly a dozen museums, YMCA discounts and more… but no RMP.
Oklahoma offers other EBT benefits but no fast food or restaurant purchases.
Oregon has some of the best EBT benefits we’ve found. They’ll even let you book concert tickets for $5! however, they still won’t let you use your food stamps at restaurants.
Pennsylvania offers EBT cardholders dozens of museum discounts. They even have discounts for minigolf and carousels! Unfortunately, they still won’t let you buy restaurant meals with your food stamps card.
Rhode Island residents who are age 60+, disabled or homeless (living in a shelter, halfway house, or even staying temporarily with someone else) can use their EBT benefits at certain participating restaurants.
In 2017, the list of Rhode Island restaurants that accept EBT include:
- Subway (10 locations)
Three fresh sub sandwiches – turkey breast, ham & swiss and salami on a cutting board. Focus on the ham sandwich
South Carolina offers $2 tickets to the Philharmonic, museum discounts and other deals… but no restaurant meals program.
South Dakota offers museum discounts, free u-pick strawberries and potentially even property tax discounts for EBT cardholders! Unfortunately, they do not authorize restaurant purchases for food stamps.
Tennessee offers some great deals with your EBT card, including a $25 per year family membership to Adventure Science Center in Nashville! However, they won’t let you use your food stamps to buy food at restaurants.
Texas offers discounts at Houston Zoo and five other venues with your EBT card. Although they have other perks, they do not offer a RMP.
Utah doesn’t offer a Restaurant Meals Program but they do offer museum discounts and other perks to those with EBT cards!
Vermont offers seasonal fuel assistance and other benefits to those with EBT cards… but they do not have a restaurant meals program.
Virginia has a lot of different programs for EBT recipients but they don’t authorize restaurant purchases.
Washington has many discounted museums. Take-and-bake restaurants like Leonardi’s and Figaro’s will bake your pizzas for you for an extra non-EBT dollar. However, no other restaurants are authorized.
West Virginia EBT cardholders can visit Spark! Imagination and Science Center for FREE and enjoy other benefits… but they can’t buy food at restaurants.
Wisconsin has great museum discounts, CSA programs and other deals… but no RMP.
Wyoming has some epic farmer’s markets programs that will double your money and even give your children free money to spend! However, they don’t have RMP.
What is the purpose of the Restaurant Meals Program?
Aaron Lavalllee, communications coordinator for the USDA Office of Communications, wrote:
(The) Restaurant Meal Program has been an option for states — state run, state contracted, state administered — since the 1977 Food Stamp Act. The decision to establish a restaurant meal program is made entirely at the state level.
Most importantly, the ONLY people who qualify are the elderly, disabled, and homeless, as this provision is intended to assist people who are unable to prepare meals at home or in a traditional kitchen setting. This key fact and requirement of the law is mentioned nowhere in your article and we can both agree that with that clarification this story changes drastically.
Since 1977 the decision to establish a restaurant meal program has been made by only a handful of states and because of this participation is very low.
How can I bring this program to my area?
If you would like to see the Restaurant Meals Program enacted in your area, contact your local lawmakers! You can easily find your elected officials on USA.gov. As we said before, this option has been available to states since 1977 but is very rarely used.
To help you, we’ve drafted a sample message below. You can copy and paste it, if you’d like – just be sure to change the names!
Dear [Elected Official],
Since 1977, the federal Food Stamp Act has given states the ability to enact the Restaurant Meals Program. This program allows vulnerable and at-risk populations, such as the homeless and elderly, who cannot cook meals for themselves at home. Through this program, these specific, qualifying individuals are allowed to use their food benefits to purchase affordable meals at select restaurants such as Subway. For more information about this program, you can visit LowIncomeRelief.com (https://lowincomerelief.com/fast-food-restaurants-ebt/).
This program has been successfully adopted in Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Michigan, and Rhode Island. However, it is not yet available in our state.
Please take action to introduce the Restaurant Meals Program in our state.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Keep me posted about any responses you receive! I’d love to see this program rolled out to other states where it can help those who need it! 🙂
When you get allotted food stamps for a certain amount each month on your EBT card….it really is up o you how you spend it. For example, if you get $ 150. for the month and go to a fancy store and buy some sirloin steaks , two big lobster tails and a box of jumbo butterfly shrimp with your allowance and spend it all…that is your choice ! You will not be getting more money on the card until the following month. If you are smart and necessity dictates you shop more wisely and economically, you can buy things on sale, go to dollar stores and purchase more inexpensive things like breads, eggs, pasta, rice and hot dogs, etc. I do not think nice chain restaurants like Outback, Olive Garden or Chili’s should accept EBT food stamps, because a meal for two there can easily run $ 50.00 minimum and that is too extravagant for people on public assistance, in my opinion. You want to eat out there….pay for it with your own cash ! However, fast food chains like Burger King, KFC and McDonald’s offer value meals for $ 5.00 or less and sometimes people do not have time to cook at home and need a little break, too. This to me is acceptable to be permitted with EBT cards and not outrageous, as long as recipients do it only occasionally. However, once again, this is their choice !
YES! Exactly! Thank you, Wonda – I completely agree! 🙂
Is there any fast food restaurant accepting food stamps in Texas?
Unfortunately, Texas has not chosen to participate in the Restaurant Meals Program yet. I’m so sorry! 🙁
Any fast food places participating in ebt program in Alexandria Louisiana
Hey, Tania! I’m not aware of any participation in Louisiana. I just checked and didn’t see any updates on that. I’m so sorry! 🙁
Does Portland Oregon participate in this program? I am homeless so it would help tremendously.
I’m so sorry! Oregon doesn’t participate at this time. You can click here to find some awesome things Portland does offer with EBT cards, though!
Do the restaurants in South Carolina accept the EBT
Hi, Stephannie! At this time, South Carolina does not participate in the Restaurant Meals Program. Your lawmakers can change that, though! You can use this link to contact your state legislators and ask them to support the Restaurant Meals Program in your state.
Texas has papa Murphy’s. Take home and bake fresh pizza.
YES! That’s very true, Sb! You don’t even need to participate in the Restaurant Meals Program for that! In fact, if you have EBT in Texas, you can also get discounts at seven museums, buy gardening supplies and more with your EBT card!
I agree to not going to Olive Garden with a EBT card it seems unreasonable but a McDonalds Value meal, why not that doesn’t seem to unreasonable………. does it?
How successful has this program been in the states that participate?
It’s my understanding that it has been successful but I don’t have any statistics or data on the matter. It’s actually very hard to find information about these programs so I’d recommend calling the participating state agencies for details.
Has there been word on DC’s participation in the Restaurant Meals Program?
I just checked and I’m not able to find anything about that. I’m sorry, Candice!
Nicole
Do you know of any way to find out from EBT data of the number of EBT purchases by convenience store? I guess in Jan EBT will go away for Foodservice purchases there. 🙁
Hey, Wade! Unfortunately, I do not know how to find that information. 🙁 Sorry!
Hi Nicole,
Wouldnt it be wise to extend your research a bit further and compare food programs of US to Norway,Denmark etc( at least Top 3 welfare natiions who take care of their own extremely well and if they restrict spending to few options ) ?
That would be awesome! I’m overwhelmed with the amount of research on my to-do list but I’ll definitely consider working on that when I get the chance. Thanks, AB!
Hot food for hemeless should be available in every state like nevada utah colorado
I agree with that, Nomi!
Does ct have any food place that can take ebt cards
Hi, Steve! As far as I can tell, Connecticut administered a Restaurant Meals Program back in the 90s but they discontinued it. 🙁 I’m so sorry!
I met one of the requirements my husband and daughter dont. We dont have the restaurant option with ours. Were in Arizona, but yet i know people abusing the system that does. This upsets me cause a treat once in a while would be nice. Yet i have to listen to a couple living together that frauds the system brag about how they go to all these different places on the government money 🙁
Yikes! That’s horrible, Paula! You can report their fraud by visiting the DES website or by calling the department’s toll-free number at 1-800-251-2436.
So hey listen, this website is great btw. So I live in the Philadelphia area. Many urban food spots, for example a spot that cooks and sells u ur seafood. What these places are now starting to do is put up big signs saying “now accepting ebt”. How u ask? They are still selling u the frozen seafood and “offering” to cook for u free as a “service” to their customers. THIS IS COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY LEGAL IF A BUSINESS DECIDES TO OFFER THE COOKING OF GUESTS FOOD AS A FREE SERVICE. And again, this is doable at places that sell frozen seafood or frozen anything and can sell it to their customers. It’s a win for the business and a win for the patrons using ebt. Because yes, even ebt users deserve a hot delicious meal sometimes and why not have it healthier than McDonald’s or Popeye’s whose food in the end will only create illnesses in us that the same government will eventually have to pay more for in medical assiaitence programs.
I say ebt or not, people entirely, especially the disadvantaged, should have access to HEALTHY FOOD. Farmer’s markets. Not occasional once a year checks. No one EVER talks about that. Health in this country is deplorable even if u look at the statistics among minority communties, the urban areas, and among even our children regardless of community. Obesity is very real.
What we need is healthier food options in the communities that need it the most. Food desserts in America should be a thing of the past. There should be more vegetable and fruit options to change the health of this nation. There should be more healthy supermarkets and they shouldn’t just be in the expensive tree lined “good” neighborhoods. All people should have access. Everyone. Our school meals should offer real cooked food like they do in other countries as opposed to pre-packaged crap laden with unpronounceable chemical ingredients that still will lead us to being sick yet they still serve our kids pizza and French fries and then we wonder why there is a prevalence of diabetes and hypertension???
But back to the ebt issue, I believe that even the homeless should have healthier food options. Why not? Their living conditions are already compromised and their health could be on a slippery slope and then we give them McDonald’s as an option to sustain them??? We are so a$$ backwards in this country it’s ridiculous. And sadly under this presidency programs like this will only get worse, become increasingly underfunded and fall by that wayside all together. This man wants a prepackaged food program!!?? Prepacked food means preservatives!! Bad for u!! Prepacked foods means canned goods!! More of what’s bad for us. How about some REAL FOOD??? Real fruits and vegetables…staples more and more Americans clearly need as part of their diets.
We need change. Fast and for the better in order to change the bad health landscape in this nation of ours. Real food, good food, healthy food for EVERYONE.
I agree with you 100%. As a person only getting ebt food assistance, not “cash” assistance, it is very important to be able to purchase healthy food. I got rid of the preservatives, sodium, chemicals, etc…in my diet. As a diabetic, this was a very good thing. But difficult with no incoming income. Thank god for a few good food pantrys, sales and being able to grow some of my own food. I also got in to wild edibles.
Healthy food is SO important – and expensive! I’m glad you’ve found solutions and ways to make your budget work with your dietary needs, Colleen. That’s very impressive! I’d love to learn more about these wild edibles. That sounds like something that could be very useful to our audience. I’m going to have to look into that!