Does Fast Food Restaurants Accept EBT Food Stamps?

Have you ever wondered if there are fast food restaurants that accept EBT Food Stamps? The answer is yes, but only in certain circumstances. This article outlines the fast-food restaurants that do accept EBT food stamps.

Most states only allow SNAP purchases for cold, unprepared foods. But eateries that take EBT as SNAP authorized restaurants can be found at locations primarily in California and Arizona, with limited pilot projects in Rhode Island and Florida, although some national chains take EBT in other states.

What Is an EBT Card?

Electronic Benefit Transfer cards, also known as EBT cards, are the way that state agencies distribute the money that the SNAP program provides to individuals and families. EBT cards look and act much like debit cards, except there is no link to your bank account.

EBT cards are connected to your SNAP benefits account, so when you swipe your EBT card at the grocery store to pay for your food, the funds from your SNAP benefits go into the store’s bank. These cards can only be used to buy food from approved retailers.

What Fast Food Can You Buy with Your EBT Card?

In most states, you can only purchase food that is meant to be prepared at home. The most standard example of a fast-food restaurant where you can use your EBT card is Papa Murphy’s because you “take n’ bake” the pizzas at home. But, as with most laws, there are exceptions.

Federal law permits states to extend the SNAP to allow people who are elderly, disabled, or homeless to use their EBT cards to buy hot meals at approved restaurants. These approved restaurants must sell foods at “concessionary prices,” but the term isn’t defined by law. Usually, fast-food restaurants participate.

This exception takes into consideration that many people who qualify for EBT don’t have the means to take food home and cook it, so being able to buy only unprepared foods isn’t that helpful. Very few states have extended their programs to allow people to buy food at restaurants with EBT cards. In those that have, the extension is often called a “Restaurant Meal Program,” or RMP.

Fast-Food Restaurants That Accept EBT

It’s worth noting that franchised locations can set their own policies on what payment types they’ll accept. That means that if the corporate office sets a policy to accept or not accept EBT in the corporate-owned stores, the franchise won’t necessarily follow that policy.

If you visit one of these restaurants in a state with an RMP and receive RMP benefits to your EBT card, you’ll probably be able to buy hot food off the menu.

If you are visiting a restaurant in a state without an RMP, or the location happens to not participates in the state’s RMP program, you either won’t be able to use your EBT card at all or will be limited to cold items that count as for home preparation only. We’ve noted which items might count as cold, home prep items for each state, for those looking for restaurant food in non-RMP states.

Pizza Hut

• Possible cold food for home prep: None
• States with locations accepting EBT: California

Domino’s

• Possible cold food for home prep: Salads, subs, desserts, and soft drinks
• Additional information: Take advantage of daily deals to get better prices.
• States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona, California

Popeye’s

• Possible cold food for home prep: None
• States with locations accepting EBT: California

Burger King

• Possible cold food for home prep: Salads, milkshakes, applesauce, milk, desserts, and soft drinks
• States with locations accepting EBT: California

Carl’s Jr.

• Possible cold food for home prep: None
• States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona, California

Church’s Chicken

• Possible cold food for home prep: Coleslaw, desserts, and soft drinks
• Additional information: Many people report purchasing their chicken using EBT cards. Check with each franchise before purchasing.
• States with locations accepting EBT: California

Cici’s Pizza

• Possible cold food for home prep: None
• States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona
• Suggested Article: These Are the Pizza Places That Take EBT

Dairy Queen

• Possible cold food for home prep: Ice cream, cakes, and drinks
• States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona

Del Taco

• Possible cold food for home prep: Chips, desserts, salads, drinks
• States with locations accepting EBT: California

Denny’s

• Possible cold food for home prep: None
• States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona, California

El Pollo Loco

• Possible cold food for home prep: Salads, side dishes, and drinks
• Additional information: Join the e-club for exclusive discounts.
• States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona, California

Jack in the Box

• Possible cold food for home prep: None
• States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona, California

Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC)

• Possible cold food for home prep: Coleslaw, desserts, and soft drinks
• Additional information: Some KFC restaurants reportedly allow for chicken and sandwiches to be purchased using EBT cards, but check with your local franchise.
• States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona, California

McDonald’s

• Possible cold food for home prep: None
• States with locations accepting EBT: California

Subway

• Possible cold food for home prep: Cold subs, chips, and soft drinks may count as cold food
• Additional information: EBT cards cannot be used on Subway’s app for ordering ahead, see more about Subway and EBT cards.
• States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona, California, Rhode Island

Taco Bell

• Possible cold food for home prep: Chips, desserts, specialty cold drinks, and soft drinks
• States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona, California

Wendy’s

• Possible cold food for home prep: Salads, desserts, specialty drinks, and soft drinks
• States with locations accepting EBT: California

Wing Stop

• Possible cold food for home prep: None
• States with locations accepting EBT: California

Papa John’s Pizza

• Possible cold food for home prep: None
• States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona

Papa Murphy’s

• Possible cold food for home prep: Take and bake pizzas, salads, sides, and drinks
• Additional information: Since all Papa Murphy’s pizza is “take and bake,” it doesn’t fall under the restriction of “hot foods.” Sign up for extra offers on Papa Murphy’s website.
• States with locations accepting EBT: 36 states; most Papa Murphy’s locations accept EBT.

Quiznos

• Possible cold food for home prep: None
• States with locations accepting EBT: California

Rally’s Hamburgers

• Possible cold food for home prep: Desserts, milkshakes, and soft drinks
• States with locations accepting EBT: Arizona, California

Read Also:

• Stores With The Best Price Matching Policies
• Everything You Should Know About Microcenter Price Match

Fast-Food Restaurants That Don’t Accept EBT

And, here are the fast-food restaurants that, as far as we could find, don’t accept EBT at any locations:

• Arby’s
• Biscuitville
• Chick-fil-A
• Chipotle Mexican Grill (see more about their stance on EBT)
• Cinnabon
• Culver’s
• Del Taco (see our article that goes into the details because there are some rare exceptions)
• Dunkin’
• Einstein Bros. Bagels
• Firehouse Subs
• Five Guys Burgers & Fries (see this article if you’d like to pay with Apple Pay)
• Hardee’s
• In-N-Out Burger
• Jimmy John’s
• Little Caesars
• McDonald’s (see this article for more information)
• Panda Express
• Panera Bread
• Popeyes
• Qdoba Mexican Grill (Find out if Qdoba takes Apple Pay in our article)
• Shake Shack
• Sonic Drive-In
• Starbucks
• Whataburger
• White Castle
• Zaxby’s

FAQs

1. Can the government tell what I bought with my EBT card?

The EBT system does not keep a record of what you buy.

2. Is my personal information in the EBT system kept private?

Yes. Information about clients in the EBT system is under the same privacy rules that govern the CalFresh Program and CalWORKs.

3. What if I already have my cash benefits direct deposited, do I have to use an EBT card to access those benefits?

No. If you already receive your cash benefits by direct deposit, you may continue to do so.

Final Say

EBT at fast-food places is only available in states with Restaurant Meal Programs, and only for people who are EBT recipients and disabled, elderly, or homeless. If you aren’t in an RMP or don’t qualify for the program, you can’t use EBT at local fast-food restaurants.

You may be able to find a local fast-food restaurant that is approved to accept EBT for food items intended for home preparation — but this is rare. Most traditional fast-food restaurants don’t sell food that qualifies for EBT.

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