Best grocery stores that accept EBT/CalFresh with good prices in 2025?

Food 4 Less and Winco have been my go-to places for the past year. Their prices are WAY better than the big chains and they take EBT no problem. Winco especially has amazing bulk section where you can get exactly what you need - saves me so much $$ on things like rice and beans. Also download the Flipp app - it shows all the weekly ads in one place so you can comparison shop without driving everywhere. Some ethnic grocery stores like the asian markets also have super cheap produce if you have any near you!

I shop at Walmart for most stuff and then hit up Aldi for produce and dairy. Between those two i save at least $100 compared to safeway. Dollar tree has some stuff too but check experation dates!!!!

FoodMaxx is amazing!! I've been shopping there for over 6 years on CalFresh. We're also a family of 3 and I can stretch our benefits a LOT further there. Some locations are better than others though. Smart & Final is another good option if you can buy slightly larger quantities - their prices on meat can be really good. Don't forget about the Market Match program at farmers markets! If you spend $10 in CalFresh benefits, they'll match it with another $10 for fruits and vegetables. My kids actually eat more produce now because of this program. Not all farmers markets participate but most of the big ones in Sacramento do. Here's their website: https://marketmatch.org

Grocery Outlet is hit or miss, as you mentioned, but if you can be flexible with your meal planning it's worth it. I actually worked at a food bank for years and we always recommended people try these options: 1. Winco - consistently low prices and good bulk section 2. FoodMaxx/Food 4 Less - great sales and generally low prices 3. Grocery Outlet - amazing deals but inconsistent inventory 4. Farmers Markets with Market Match (doubles your benefits up to $10/visit) 5. Ethnic markets for produce and staples Also, if you haven't already, make sure you're getting the maximum CalFresh benefit you're entitled to. Many families don't report all eligible deductions like childcare expenses, medical expenses for elderly/disabled household members, and high housing costs. If your circumstances have changed, it might be worth checking if you qualify for more benefits.

walmart an target are where i go. but the walmart near me always has empty shelfs lately!!! so frustrating

The system is RIGGED against us! CalFresh benefits haven't kept up with inflation AT ALL. In 2019 I could buy decent groceries for my family with benefits, now it's impossible!!! The so-called "increases" they give us are a joke compared to how much food costs have gone up. I'm so tired of politicians pretending they care about hunger while we're all struggling to feed our kids. And don't get me started on how the county workers make you feel like a criminal just for asking questions about your benefits. To answer your question though - Winco and FoodMaxx are the only places worth shopping anymore. Safeway and the fancy stores are for rich people now.

BTW forgot to mention - if you have Amazon Prime (or can get the discounted version with your EBT card), Amazon Fresh sometimes has good deals and delivers. Also Walmart+ grocery delivery is free if you have CalFresh and order $50+. Saved me when my car broke down last month!

just wanted to update - I actually tried calling yesterday to ask about increasing my benefits due to childcare costs like someone suggested here. Was on hold forever then got disconnected THREE TIMES. so annoying. i hate dealing with the county office. they make everything so difficult on purpose i swear

Update: I tried Winco yesterday based on everyone's suggestions here and WOW what a difference! I got almost exactly the same items I usually get at Safeway and spent $64 less! That's going to make a huge difference stretching our benefits. The store was pretty crowded but worth it for the savings. I also signed up for that Market Match program for the farmers market this weekend. Thank you all for the helpful advice!

Great to see everyone sharing such helpful tips! As a newcomer to this community, I'm dealing with similar struggles stretching my CalFresh benefits. The inflation has been brutal - what used to last me 3 weeks now barely makes it 2. I'm definitely going to try some of these suggestions, especially Winco and FoodMaxx since I have both nearby. The Market Match program sounds amazing too - I had no idea that existed! It's so helpful to have a community where we can share real practical advice instead of just complaining. Looking forward to learning more money-saving strategies from everyone here.

As someone new to this community, I'm really grateful for all the practical advice being shared here! The grocery price inflation has been absolutely crushing - my CalFresh benefits used to last almost the full month but now I'm scrambling by week 3. I've been mainly shopping at Vons and Ralphs but clearly need to branch out based on what everyone's saying. There's a Winco about 20 minutes from me that I've driven past countless times but never tried - definitely going this weekend! The Market Match program sounds incredible too, I had no idea CalFresh benefits could be doubled for produce. Does anyone know if the program works at all farmers markets or just certain ones? Also curious if anyone has experience with those meal planning apps that help stretch benefits further - wondering if they're worth the time investment.

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for such amazing practical advice! I'm in a similar situation - family of 4 and our CalFresh benefits have been running out faster and faster each month. Reading through all these suggestions is giving me hope that I can stretch our dollars further. I've been stubbornly sticking to the same stores out of habit, but clearly need to explore these other options. There's both a FoodMaxx and Winco within driving distance that I've never tried. The Market Match program sounds like a game-changer too - I love that it specifically helps with fresh produce since that's where I feel like I'm spending the most. It's so refreshing to find a community where people share real, actionable tips instead of just venting (though sometimes we all need to vent too!). Looking forward to learning more money-saving strategies and hopefully contributing some of my own discoveries once I start trying these new stores.