What Restaurants Accept EBT in New York?

Did you realize that some restaurants accept EBT in New York? If you’re a recipient of SNAP benefits, you may have the opportunity to buy freshly prepared, hot meals from specific restaurants through the Restaurant Meals Program.

In this article, we will explore the specifics of this program, including who qualifies for it, how it operates, and which restaurants are involved in accepting SNAP payments for ready-to-eat meals.

About the Restaurant Meals Program

The Restaurant Meals Program is part of the federal food stamps law, but states choose whether to offer it. States like California and Arizona have run large versions of it for years.

New York’s program started slower. Governor Hochul signed legislation directing the state to create the program in 2021, and it launched as a pilot in Monroe County in December 2023. It expanded to all five boroughs of New York City in 2024. Then, in February 2025, the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance officially expanded the Restaurant Meals Program from a pilot into a statewide program.

That means eligibility is no longer limited by where you live in New York. Whether restaurants near you have actually signed up yet is a separate question, since participation is voluntary for restaurants, but the state-level restriction is gone.

Who Is Eligible for New York’s Restaurant Meals Program?

Every person in your SNAP household needs to meet at least one of these:

• Be 60 or older, or the spouse of someone who is; OR
• Have a permanent disability recognized by the government, or be the spouse of someone who does; OR
• Be experiencing homelessness

You don’t need to fill out a separate application. If your household qualifies, the state automatically updates your SNAP case to reflect it.

How Does the Restaurant Meals Program Work in New York?

Once you’re eligible, you can check your status anytime by logging into your account at ebtEDGE.com. If you believe you qualify but your card gets declined at a participating restaurant, contact your local department of social services.

Here’s what to know about using it:

• Swipe your EBT card at the restaurant just like you would at the grocery store
• You’ll automatically get a 10% discount on your meal
• You won’t be charged sales tax or a tip
• Delivery orders don’t qualify, only in-person purchases
• Alcohol, cigarettes, and non-food items are never covered

Participating restaurants post a specific window decal, so that’s an easy way to spot one while you’re out. This program doesn’t add extra money to your SNAP benefits, it just gives you a new place to spend what you already have.

Restaurants That Accept EBT in New York

Relief Recap

New York’s Restaurant Meals Program has grown from a small pilot into a statewide option, giving eligible seniors, disabled individuals, and people experiencing homelessness a way to get hot meals at a 10% discount using their SNAP benefits. Check the list above for restaurants near you, and check back often since new locations are being added regularly.