Restaurant Meals Program · 9 states
Restaurants that take EBT: the Restaurant Meals Program
SNAP can pay for a hot restaurant meal only through the Restaurant Meals Program. The USDA lists 9 states that run it, and its retailer data has 8,476 restaurants in those states.
Who can use it
Only SNAP households in a state that runs the program, where every member is 60 or older, has a disability, is homeless, or is the spouse of someone who can use it. The state codes the EBT card, so a card that is not set up is declined at the register.
States that run it
| State | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| California | 6,494 |
| Arizona | 975 |
| New York | 478 |
| Michigan | 338 |
| Virginia | 78 |
| Illinois (Cook and Franklin Counties only) | 55 |
| Maryland | 29 |
| Rhode Island | 15 |
| Massachusetts | 14 |
The USDA retailer data also has 1 restaurant in New Jersey marked as part of the program, but New Jersey is not on the USDA list of states that run it, so we leave it out.
Chains in the program
| Chain | Locations |
|---|---|
| McDonald's | 971 |
| Subway | 949 |
| Jack in the Box | 866 |
| Carl's Jr. | 597 |
| Taco Bell | 564 |
| Burger King | 404 |
| Pizza Hut | 321 |
| KFC | 271 |
| Del Taco | 257 |
| Popeyes | 230 |
| Wendy's | 180 |
| Domino's | 172 |
Everyone else: hot food is not allowed
Outside the program, SNAP cannot buy food that is hot at the point of sale. Cold deli food, a cold rotisserie chicken or a frozen meal are fine. Hot food rules.
Common questions
Can I use EBT at McDonald's?
Only in the Restaurant Meals Program, in the 9 states that run it, and only if everyone in your household is 60 or older, disabled or homeless. The USDA data lists 971 McDonald's locations in the program.
How do I know if my card works at restaurants?
Your state codes the card. If your household is eligible, ask your SNAP office to turn it on. A card that is not set up is declined at the register.
Which states have the Restaurant Meals Program?
Arizona, California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Rhode Island, Virginia. In Illinois, only Cook and Franklin Counties.
Sources: USDA, SNAP Restaurant Meals Program (page updated August 7, 2026); USDA SNAP Retailer Locator data (layer updated October 21, 2026).
Independent guide. Not a government website. Not affiliated with USDA or any state agency. We do not take applications, and we never ask for your case number, card number or PIN. Amounts and rules can change: your state SNAP agency has the final word.