What Fast Food Places Take EBT? 2026 Chain and State List

Quick answer: Fast food places take EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) only through the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP). It is part of SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamps), and only nine states run it: Arizona, California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Rhode Island and Virginia.¹

Even there, only listed restaurants take the card, and everyone in your SNAP household must be 60 or older, have a disability, be homeless, or be the spouse of someone who qualifies.¹ Everywhere else, SNAP benefits can't pay for food that is hot when you buy it.² Not in one of these states? See what you can buy instead.

The RMP lets eligible SNAP recipients buy prepared meals at approved restaurants. Each state picks which restaurants and how many, so the same chain can take EBT in one state and not the next.¹

Which restaurants accept EBT?

Only restaurants approved for your state's RMP, and each state posts its own list. We checked all nine on Oct. 14, 2026.³

State	Where it works	Listed locations	Official list
Arizona	Cities across the state; some grocery store delis also take part³⁴	About 980 (list dated Apr. 24, 2026)³	DES list (PDF)
California	Statewide since Sept. 1, 2021⁵	Not counted (county spreadsheet); use the state map	CDSS map and county list
Illinois	50 restaurants in 16 counties, expanding statewide (Oct. 8, 2026)⁶	50³	IDHS restaurant list
Maryland	Pilot in selected counties⁷	31, one temporarily closed³	DHS restaurant list
Massachusetts	Local restaurants and food trucks, no chains³	13³	DTA list
Michigan	Listed restaurants; look for the EBT sign on the door or window⁸	313 (list dated Oct. 9, 2026)³	MDHHS list and map
New York	Listed by county, updated as restaurants join⁹	Not counted; filter by county	OTDA list
Rhode Island	Providence, Pawtucket, Woonsocket, Cranston and a few other towns¹⁰	18 on the list revised Aug. 15, 2025: 9 Subway (2 marked temporarily closed) and 9 Burger King (added Sept. 1, 2025)¹⁰	DHS page and list
Virginia	Participating restaurants in cities across the state¹¹³	87³	VDSS locator

Source: each state agency's page, checked Oct. 14, 2026; counts are rows on each official list.³

In the other 41 states and DC, no restaurant can take SNAP for a hot, ready-to-eat meal.¹¹² The few exceptions are below.

What fast food places take EBT, chain by chain?

No fast food chain takes EBT everywhere. A location takes SNAP only if it is on an RMP state's approved list, and only for households that qualify.¹³

Chain	Approved locations on the seven state lists we could count (Oct. 14, 2026)
Subway	Arizona (about 160), Michigan (94), Virginia (16), Rhode Island (9)
Burger King	Arizona (about 150), Rhode Island (9), Michigan (4), Maryland (1)
McDonald's	Arizona (about 115), Michigan (21), Virginia (3)
Jack in the Box	Arizona (about 130)
Taco Bell	Michigan (76), Arizona (about 20), Virginia (1, a combined KFC/Taco Bell)
KFC	Virginia (50), Michigan (33), Maryland (11)
Carl's Jr.	Arizona (about 65)
Papa John's	Arizona (about 50), Michigan (11)
Denny's	Arizona (about 45)
Pizza Hut	Arizona (about 25), Illinois (14)
El Pollo Loco	Arizona (about 25)
Del Taco	Arizona (about 25)
Hungry Howie's	Arizona (about 20)
Firehouse Subs	Arizona (about 20)
Domino's	Michigan (9), Arizona (about 7)
Church's	Arizona (about 11)
Dairy Queen	Arizona (about 9)
Popeyes	Michigan (5), Arizona (1)
Checkers	Maryland (3)
Wienerschnitzel	Arizona (3)
Sonic	Illinois (2)
Wendy's	Maryland (2)
Little Caesars	Virginia (1)
Starbucks, Chipotle, Chick-fil-A, Wingstop, In-N-Out, Panda Express, IHOP, Jersey Mike's	None of the seven lists

Source: PantryPath count of the Arizona, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Rhode Island and Virginia lists.³¹⁰ Arizona counts are approximate because its PDF splits some rows. California and New York use search maps, so the seven lists leave them out; check those states' maps for more locations.

Does McDonald's take EBT?

Only at listed McDonald's: about 115 in Arizona, 21 in Michigan and 3 in Virginia on the seven lists we checked.³ California's and New York's maps may list more. Your household also has to qualify: everyone 60+, disabled or homeless (or the spouse of someone who is).¹

Does Subway take EBT?

Only at listed Subways in RMP states: about 160 in Arizona, 94 in Michigan, 16 in Virginia and 9 in Rhode Island.³¹⁰ Your household must qualify for the RMP.¹ Outside the RMP, a Subway can't take SNAP at all, not even for a cold sub. USDA won't let a business be a SNAP store when more than half its sales are prepared food.¹² A cold sandwich from a SNAP grocery store is fine.¹²

Does Taco Bell take EBT?

Only at listed Taco Bells: 76 in Michigan, about 20 in Arizona and 1 combined KFC/Taco Bell in Virginia on the seven lists we checked.³ Your household must qualify for the RMP.¹

Can I use an EBT card at Burger King?

Yes, but only at listed locations: about 150 in Arizona, 9 in Rhode Island, 4 in Michigan and 1 in Maryland on the seven lists we checked.³¹⁰ Your household must qualify for the RMP.¹

Does Jack in the Box take EBT?

On the seven lists we checked, only in Arizona, where about 130 are listed; California's map may show more.³ Your household must qualify for the RMP.¹

Can I order KFC with EBT?

Yes, but only at listed KFCs: 50 in Virginia, 33 in Michigan and 11 in Maryland on the seven lists we checked.³ Your household must qualify for the RMP.¹

Does Wendy's accept EBT?

On the seven lists we checked, only 2 Wendy's take it, both in Maryland.³ California's and New York's lists were not counted, so check those maps. Your household must qualify for the RMP.¹

Does Popeyes take EBT?

Rarely. We found 5 Popeyes on Michigan's list and 1 on Arizona's, and your household must qualify for the RMP.³¹

Does Domino's take EBT?

Only listed stores: 9 Domino's in Michigan and about 7 in Arizona on the seven lists we checked.³ Pizza the store bakes or heats counts as heated food, so other Domino's can't take SNAP.¹² Your household must qualify for the RMP.¹

Does Little Caesars accept EBT?

We found 1 Little Caesars on Virginia's list and none on the other six lists.³ A regular pizza shop can't take SNAP outside the RMP, because store-heated pizza is heated food.¹² Your household must qualify for the RMP.¹

Does Denny's take EBT?

About 45 Denny's are on Arizona's list and none on the other six lists we checked.³ Your household must qualify for the RMP.¹

Do Chick-fil-A, Chipotle, Wingstop, Panda Express or In-N-Out take EBT?

None of them were on the seven state lists we checked on Oct. 14, 2026; check California's and New York's maps.³

Who qualifies for the SNAP Restaurant Meals Program?

You must get SNAP in an RMP state, and every person in your SNAP household must fit at least one of these groups:¹

60 or older
Gets disability or blindness payments, or a government disability retirement benefit for a permanent disability
Homeless
The spouse of someone who qualifies

One member who doesn't fit makes the whole household ineligible.⁵ Joining the RMP does not change your benefit amount, Michigan says.⁸ If you are 60 or older, see more food help for older adults. If you have a disability, see food help for people with disabilities. If you don't have a fixed address, see food help without a fixed address.

Do I have to apply for the Restaurant Meals Program?

Usually not. New York updates eligible cases automatically, and Michigan turns on your Bridge card (Michigan's EBT card) if your case lists you as 60+, disabled or homeless.¹³⁸ To check your status:

Illinois: ebtEDGE (the free EBT balance app and website) shows RMP eligibility for your Link card above your balance on the wallet screen.⁶
New York: check ebtEDGE.¹³
Michigan: look for an RMP message in MI Bridges (Michigan's online benefits account), or ask your caseworker.⁸
Massachusetts: call 1-800-997-2555 and press option 6.¹⁴
California: call the CalFresh Information Line at 1-877-847-3663.⁵
Arizona, Maryland, Rhode Island and Virginia: ask your SNAP caseworker, or use the state page linked in the table above.

Can you buy hot food with EBT?

Usually not. SNAP can't buy food that is hot at the point of sale.² The two exceptions are the Restaurant Meals Program and a disaster waiver.¹¹⁵

Hot means hot at the register. Coffee, soup, roast or fried chicken and pizza are USDA's examples.¹² Federal rules leave "hot foods and hot food products prepared for immediate consumption" out of SNAP's eligible foods.¹⁶
Cold prepared food is fine at a store. A cold sandwich or salad from a SNAP-authorized store is eligible, because it isn't hot at the point of sale.¹²²
The restaurant exception is written into law. Congress let older adults, people with disabilities and homeless people use SNAP at restaurants that contract with the state to sell meals at "concessional" (reduced) prices.¹⁷ In Illinois and New York, that means a 10% discount.⁶¹³

How do you pay with EBT at a participating restaurant?

Find a listed restaurant using your state's list above, and look for the RMP sign at the door. Massachusetts says a sticker with the RMP logo shows the business is currently accepting SNAP.¹⁴
Order at the counter. Tell the cashier you'll pay with SNAP, and don't call ahead: Massachusetts says you can't when paying with SNAP.¹⁴
Have your card and PIN ready. You pay like any EBT purchase.¹¹
Ask for the discount in Illinois or New York. Both states require a 10% discount for RMP customers.⁶¹³
Check the receipt for tax. Federal rules don't allow sales tax on anything you buy with SNAP, including restaurant meals.¹⁸ Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Arizona and Massachusetts repeat this on their RMP pages.⁶⁷⁸⁴¹⁴
Pay tips and delivery fees another way. Michigan says EBT can't cover them, and you can pay any difference with another payment method.⁸

Why was my EBT card declined at a restaurant with an EBT sign?

Your state turns on restaurant use only for eligible households, so the card is declined at an RMP restaurant if your case doesn't show that you qualify.¹ If you are 60 or older, have a disability or are homeless and still get declined, call your caseworker and ask them to update your case.⁸¹⁴ A low balance can also cause a decline, so check your EBT balance first. Maryland rechecks restaurant eligibility each time you renew SNAP.⁷

Can you buy hot food with SNAP after a disaster?

Sometimes, at stores. After a Presidential disaster declaration, a state can ask USDA for a waiver that lets SNAP households buy hot, prepared foods for a set time.¹⁹ On July 15, 2026, USDA approved a Louisiana waiver that let SNAP households statewide buy hot foods through Aug. 13, 2026, after Tropical Storm Arthur outages.¹⁵ Stores can need 24 to 36 hours to start.¹⁵

To see whether a waiver is active where you live, check USDA's Disaster Assistance page or your state SNAP agency.¹⁹

What if your state has no Restaurant Meals Program?

You can't use SNAP at fast food restaurants, but you can still use it for:

Cold deli food at SNAP stores. Cold sandwiches and salads are eligible, and other cold prepared foods, such as a chicken from the cold case, aren't hot at the point of sale, so SNAP can pay for them.¹²²
Take-and-bake pizza. Papa Murphy's says it accepts SNAP EBT because you bake the pizza at home.²⁰ EBT is taken in-store only, not for delivery, and not at every location, so call your store first.²⁰
Meals for older adults and people with disabilities. Federal law lets SNAP pay for meals at senior centers and nonprofit meal programs, and for home-delivered meal programs run by nonprofits or state-contracted providers.¹⁷ This works only if the provider is authorized to accept SNAP, so ask before you pay. See more food help for older adults.
Free hot meals. Soup kitchens and meal programs serve hot food for free, with no SNAP needed. Find free hot meals and soup kitchens by city: 931 of our 7,197 confirmed listings describe hot meals or a soup kitchen, including 556 in states without an RMP.³ Also read our guide to food pantries for people without a home.

Is the Restaurant Meals Program changing?

Illinois, which started a pilot in 2022, announced on Oct. 8, 2026 that it is expanding statewide.⁶

In Congress, H.R. 10268, the Ending Restaurant Purchases with SNAP Act of 2026, would end the RMP.²¹ It was introduced on Sept. 3, 2026, sent to the House Agriculture Committee and has not passed, so the RMP works as before.²¹

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use EBT for fast food on DoorDash?

Not for restaurant meals. DoorDash says SNAP works on its app at participating grocery and convenience stores.²² SNAP can't pay delivery fees or other charges on any online order.²³

Can I use EBT cash at a fast food restaurant?

Sometimes. EBT cash is cash assistance loaded on the same EBT card as SNAP; Pennsylvania, for example, puts both on one card.²⁴ California's RMP map can filter for restaurants that take EBT cash, and Maryland lets you pay the rest of an RMP meal with EBT cash in one mixed transaction.⁵⁷

Can you buy a rotisserie chicken with EBT?

Yes, if it is cold. A chicken from the cold case isn't hot at the point of sale, but one from the hot warmer is, so SNAP can't pay for it.²¹²

Does Starbucks take EBT?

Starbucks was not on any of the seven lists we checked.³ Coffee sold hot is a hot food under USDA rules.¹²

What fast food can I get with EBT in California?

California's CalFresh RMP is statewide, and you can use it at any participating restaurant, even outside your county.⁵ Use the CDSS map or county list, or call the CalFresh Information Line at 1-877-847-3663.⁵

How we checked this

On Oct. 14, 2026, we read USDA's RMP page, 7 CFR 271.2 and 272.1, 7 U.S.C. 2012, USDA policy memo 2020-06, each RMP state's agency page and Congress.gov.¹¹⁶¹⁸¹⁷¹²²¹ USDA's RMP page, last updated Aug. 7, 2026, still lists Illinois as Cook and Franklin counties only; we used Illinois's Oct. 8, 2026 announcement instead.¹⁶

The same day, we counted rows on the seven official lists linked in the state table, including Arizona's PDF (Apr. 24, 2026), Michigan's PDF (Oct. 9, 2026) and Rhode Island's PDF (Aug. 15, 2025).³¹⁰ California's county spreadsheet and New York's county pages were not counted. Directory figures cover 7,197 confirmed listings in the 50 states and DC; a "hot meal" listing mentions hot meals or a soup kitchen.³ We did not visit restaurants or confirm each location is still enrolled, so call first.

If you don't qualify for the RMP, our SNAP guide covers what your benefits can buy and how to apply.