What Restaurants Accept EBT in Massachusetts?

Did you know that there some restaurants accept EBT in Massachusetts?! If you receive SNAP benefits, you could potentially purchase hot, ready-to-eat meals at certain restaurants through the Restaurant Meals Program.

In this article, we’ll delve into the details of this program, including eligibility requirements, how it functions, and which restaurants participate in accepting SNAP payments for prepared meals.

About the Restaurant Meals Program

The Restaurant Meals Program is a part of the federal food stamps law, but its implementation is not obligatory. States have the flexibility to choose whether or not to adopt it. Some states, like California and Arizona, have been running similar programs for a long time and have numerous restaurants participating in them.

Massachusetts is a newer state to join this program. The state’s Department of Transitional Assistance was approved to run the program in 2022, then selected its first restaurants and food trucks in 2023. The program opened to SNAP shoppers that fall, and DTA has continued adding new locations since then.

Who Is Eligible for Massachusetts’s Restaurant Meals Program?

TheTo use the program, you need to already qualify for SNAP in Massachusetts, and your household needs to include someone who is:

• 60 years old or older; OR
• Living with a disability; OR
• Experiencing homelessness

This program exists specifically for people who face real barriers to cooking at home, like not having reliable access to a kitchen.

How Does the Restaurant Meals Program Work in Massachusetts?

If you’re eligible, your caseworker enables restaurant purchases for your case. If you think you should qualify but aren’t sure your account is set up, contact DTA to check.

Once it’s active, here’s what to know:

• You swipe your EBT card in person at the restaurant, just like you would for groceries. Delivery orders don’t qualify.
• You’re not limited to restaurants in your immediate area. You can use your card at any approved RMP restaurant anywhere in Massachusetts.
• Participating restaurants are required to offer meals at a reduced price, so you’re often paying less than a non-SNAP customer would for the same meal.
• You won’t be charged sales tax, and tips aren’t collected on these purchases.
• As always, alcohol and non-food items are off-limits.

This program doesn’t add extra money to your SNAP benefits. It just gives you another place to spend what you already have.

Restaurants That Accept EBT in Massachusetts

Restaurants that Have Left the Program

While updating this list, we’ve noticed that some restaurants have chosen to leave the Restaurant Meals Program. Below, you’ll find the names of restaurants that used to accept EBT but no longer do.

• Bridge Pizzeria (Revere)
• Brother’s Deli of Lynn (Lynn)
• Caribbean Classic on Wheels (Mattapan)
• Cedar’s Food Mart (Springfield)
• Crave (Holyoke)
• Firtay Restaurant (Mattapan)
• January’s Kitchen (Springfield)
• Las Delicias Colombianas (Revere)
• Las Palmas Restaurant (Roslindale)
• MexiRico (Springfield)
• Sabrine Bakery & Cafe (Maiden)

Relief Recap

Massachusetts’s Restaurant Meals Program is still young, but it’s growing steadily, and it isn’t limited to your immediate neighborhood. Check the list above for restaurants near you, and check back often since DTA continues to add new locations across the state.