Did you know that there some restaurants accept EBT in Maryland?! If you’re a SNAP recipient, you may be eligible to buy hot, ready-to-eat meals from select restaurants thanks to the Restaurant Meals Program.
In this article, we’ll explore the ins and outs of this program, who qualifies for it, how it operates, and which restaurants are equipped to accept your SNAP transactions.
About the Restaurant Meals Program
The Restaurant Meals Program is a component of the federal food stamps law, but it’s not mandatory; states have the flexibility to decide whether or not to implement it. Several states, such as California and Arizona, have had programs like this for many years and have hundreds of participating restaurants.
Maryland introduced its program more recently, around 2020, and it’s still growing. The Maryland Department of Human Services describes the program as an active pilot and continues to add new counties and restaurants as it expands. That means the list of participating restaurants should keep growing.
Who is eligible?
The Restaurant Meals Program is only available to people who qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and live in Maryland.
You also need to meet at least one of the following requirements:
- Every person in your household is 60 or older, or designated disabled by a government entity; OR
- Your household is just you and your spouse (it appears common law spouses may count), and you’re 60 or older or disabled; OR
- Your household lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate place to sleep at night (homelessness)
If your household includes someone who doesn’t fit one of these categories, like an able-bodied adult who isn’t your spouse, the whole household won’t qualify. Maryland reviews your eligibility every time your SNAP case is recertified, so this can change over time.
How Does the Restaurant Meals Program Work in Maryland?
If you qualify, your caseworker enables restaurant purchases on your account. If you believe you’re eligible but haven’t heard anything, ask your Eligibility Worker directly.
Once it’s active, you swipe your Independence Card (Maryland’s EBT card) at a participating restaurant, just like you would at a grocery store. A few rules to know:
- This program doesn’t add money to your SNAP benefits, it just changes where you can spend what you already have
- You can only buy EBT-eligible food, so alcohol and non-food items are off-limits
- Restaurants can’t charge you sales tax or a tip
- Participating restaurants are actually required to charge SNAP customers less than their regular menu price, either through a set discount, an existing sale price, or a price already offered to certain customers
Restaurants That Accept EBT in Maryland
There are currently many restaurants that accept EBT in Maryland through the Restaurant Meals Program. Most of them are Burger King locations, as described below.
| Restaurant Name | City | Street Address |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Mountain Cafe LLC | Hagerstown | 1586 Potomac Ave |
| Burger King | Baltimore | 1241 Orleans St. |
| Charley’s Cheesesteak and Wings | La Plata | 50 Drury Drive |
| Checkers #1150 | Parkville | 1915 E Joppa Rd |
| Checkers #3051 | Rosedale | 6210 Rossville Blvd |
| Checkers #3117 | Lexington Park | 21656 Great Mills Rd |
| Cheezy’s Pizza & Subs | Towson | 1637 E. Joppa Road |
| Dakari Soul Food Restaurant | Edgewood | 300 Edgewood Rd. |
| Golden Pearl | Rockville | 700 Hungerford Dr |
| Heavenly Wings – (Temp. Closed) | Frederick | 300 N. Market Street |
| KFC | La Plata | Rt. 301 & Rt. 6 |
| KFC | Millersville | 8073 Veterans Hwy |
| KFC | Waldorf | 2180 Crain Hwy |
| KFC | Upper Marlboro | 10 Watkins Park Dr |
| Judy’s Island Grill Canton | Baltimore | 2300 Boston Street |
| KFC | Upper Marlboro | 5785 Crain Hwy |
| KFC | Prince Frederick | 65 W Dares Beach Rd |
| KFC | Odenton | 1682 Annapolis Rd |
| KFC | Linthicum Heights | 708 Nursery Rd |
| KFC | Bryans Road | 302 Canberra Way |
| KFC | Thurmont | 1 Thurmont Blvd. |
| KFC | Abingdon | 406 Constant Friendship Blvd. |
| Michael’s Pizza and Subs | Baltimore | 1914 Edison Hwy |
| Platta King | Baltimore | 5514 Belair Rd |
| Rock Seafood | Baltimore | 4715 Liberty Heights Ave |
| Seafood In the Buff (Wheaton) | Silver Spring | 12132 Georgia Ave |
| South Pride Seafood | Seat Pleasant | 6224 Central Ave |
| Wendy’s | La Vale | 1224 National Highway |
| Wendy’s | Cumberland | 325 S. Center Street |
| 1810 Venue and Catering | Baltimore | 1810 Cherry Hill Rd |
| Judy’s Island Grill II | Glen Burnie | 800 Crain Hwy N |
Relief Recap
Maryland’s Restaurant Meals Program is still expanding, giving eligible seniors, disabled individuals, and people experiencing homelessness a way to get hot meals with their SNAP benefits, often at a discount. Check the list above for restaurants near you, and check back regularly since Maryland keeps adding new locations.
