Can EBT/CalFresh be used at Taco Bell now? Confused about restaurant eligibility

this is probably for the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP), not regular calfresh. RMP is only for certain people - homeless, disabled, or elderly (60+). and its only available in some counties. if u qualify u can use ebt at approved restaurants, but not all places participate even in RMP counties. check ur county website to see if they do RMP and what restaurants r on the list

This is almost certainly the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP), which is a special program available in specific California counties that allows certain CalFresh recipients to use their benefits at participating restaurants. The RMP is only available to CalFresh households that include someone who is: - Age 60 or older - Disabled (receives disability benefits) - Homeless - The spouse of a member who is eligible As of 2025, the RMP is available in these counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Solano. If you don't meet those specific eligibility criteria, standard CalFresh benefits cannot be used at restaurants or for prepared hot foods. The EBT logo you saw at Taco Bell is specifically for RMP-eligible recipients.

I TRIED USING MY EBT AT TACO BELL LAST MONTH AND THEY SAID NO!!!! The cashier looked at me like I was crazy!!! I think those signs are BS or maybe it depends on which location? Someone needs to tell these stores to stop putting up EBT signs if they don't actually take it!!!

This is the Restaurant Meals Program. My mom uses it because she's over 60 and can buy from approved restaurants with her CalFresh EBT. Not every Taco Bell participates though! Each franchise owner decides, so some locations accept it while others don't. Even in eligible counties, you have to check specific locations. There's a website with all the approved restaurants. Also, they're adding new counties all the time, it used to be just a few counties but now it's expanded to like 12 counties I think?

Just to clarify some confusion in this thread: The Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) is indeed what allows certain eligible CalFresh recipients to purchase prepared foods at participating restaurants using their EBT card. However, there's an important distinction: 1) To use RMP, your EBT card must be specifically coded for the program 2) You must meet eligibility criteria (elderly, disabled, homeless) 3) The restaurant must be an approved RMP vendor If you believe you qualify but haven't been able to use your card for RMP, you may need to contact your county office to have your account properly coded. Many eligible recipients don't realize they need to specifically request RMP authorization. If you're struggling to reach your county office by phone (which is common), you might want to try a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) - they can help you skip the phone queues and connect directly with a CalFresh worker. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8

I think everybody's missing something here - there's a difference between SNAP EBT (regular CalFresh) and CASH EBT (CalWORKs benefits). Some people get both on the same card. You CANNOT use regular CalFresh SNAP benefits at restaurants unless you qualify for that special RMP program everyone's mentioning. But if you have CalWORKs, the CASH side of your EBT card can be used almost anywhere, including restaurants and fast food. Maybe the sign was for people with CASH benefits?

u should talk 2 ur eligibility worker & ask about the restaurant program, if ur in a county that has it. if u have a disability or something maybe u would qualify and just dont know

I used to work at Taco Bell in LA county and we did accept EBT but ONLY for customers who had the Restaurant Meals Program, which is a very specific thing. So many people would try to use regular CalFresh and get mad when it wouldn't work. The managers should train the staff better and make the signs clearer!!!

Quick update! I found the list of approved RMP restaurants for Sacramento County for 2025: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/county-offices (just select Sacramento and look for restaurant meals program on the page). There are about 130 restaurants including some Taco Bells, Carl's Jr, Subway, and a bunch of local places. But yeah, you still have to qualify with the age/disability/homeless requirement.

Hey everyone! I'm new to this community and just wanted to say thanks for all the helpful info in this thread. I'm a college student who just started getting CalFresh benefits and I had the same confusion about the EBT signs at fast food places. It's really helpful to learn about the Restaurant Meals Program even though I don't qualify for it. I had no idea there were different types of EBT benefits or that some people can use their cards at restaurants. This community seems really supportive and informative - glad I found it!

As someone who's been navigating CalFresh for a while, I just want to add that the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) eligibility can sometimes be broader than people think. For example, if you're temporarily staying in a shelter or transitional housing due to domestic violence, you might qualify under the "homeless" category even if you have a roof over your head. Also, some disabilities that aren't obvious might qualify you - it's worth asking your caseworker if you have any chronic conditions or receive any form of disability assistance. The worst they can say is no, but you might be surprised! And @Emma Morales - even though it doesn't help your current situation, it's good to know about RMP in case your circumstances ever change or you're helping family/friends who might qualify.

Just want to echo what others have said about this being the Restaurant Meals Program! I work at a nonprofit that helps people apply for benefits, and we see this confusion ALL the time. The signage really should be clearer - maybe something like "EBT accepted for RMP-eligible customers only" would save everyone a lot of embarrassment and confusion. @Emma Morales since you're in Sacramento County, you can also check the county's CalFresh website directly for the most up-to-date list of participating restaurants. They update it regularly as new places join or leave the program. And honestly, even though you don't qualify now, it's worth bookmarking that info because life circumstances can change unexpectedly.

This thread has been so informative! I'm relatively new to CalFresh and had the exact same confusion when I saw EBT signs at fast food places. I actually tried using my card at a McDonald's once and felt pretty embarrassed when it didn't work. Now I understand it's the Restaurant Meals Program that allows this, but only for specific eligible groups. It's frustrating that the signage isn't clearer - they really should indicate "RMP participants only" or something similar. I appreciate everyone taking the time to explain the different eligibility requirements and how the program works. Even though I don't qualify, it's good to understand the system better. Thanks for being such a welcoming and educational community!

I'm new to this community and just wanted to say how helpful this entire thread has been! I've been receiving CalFresh for about 6 months now and had no idea about the Restaurant Meals Program until reading everyone's explanations. I actually saw an EBT sign at a Subway near me last week and almost went in to try it, but now I understand it would have been for RMP participants only. It's really eye-opening to learn about all the different programs and eligibility requirements - the CalFresh system is way more complex than I initially realized. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge and experiences. This community seems like such a great resource for navigating all these benefits programs!

Hey everyone! I'm new to this community and just got my CalFresh benefits last month. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I actually had the exact same confusion about those EBT signs at fast food places! I saw one at a local Del Taco and was wondering if I could use my benefits there. Now I understand it's specifically for the Restaurant Meals Program and has those strict eligibility requirements. It's kind of disappointing since I'm a college student working part-time and grabbing something quick between classes would be really convenient, but I totally get why the program is designed for people who truly need prepared food options due to their circumstances. Thanks to everyone for explaining the differences between regular CalFresh, RMP, and cash benefits - I had no idea there were so many layers to the EBT system. This community seems really supportive and I'm glad I found it!

Hi everyone! I'm brand new to this community and just started receiving CalFresh benefits a few weeks ago. This entire thread has been SO educational - I had absolutely no clue about the Restaurant Meals Program before reading all your explanations! I actually work at a grocery store and see people try to use their EBT cards at the hot food bar sometimes, and now I understand why it doesn't work for most people. It makes total sense that RMP exists for elderly, disabled, and homeless individuals who might not have access to cooking facilities. Even though I don't qualify myself, I'm definitely going to keep this information in mind in case I encounter customers who might be eligible but don't know about the program. Thanks to everyone for being so patient in explaining all the different EBT programs and requirements - this community is already proving to be an amazing resource for understanding the benefits system!