Can I use CalFresh EBT card at fast food restaurants in California?

The answer is... it depends! CalFresh EBT can be used at some fast food restaurants, but only if you qualify for the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP). This program is specifically for people who are: - 60 years or older - Disabled (receiving disability benefits) - Homeless - The spouse of a CalFresh recipient who qualifies for RMP If you fall into one of these categories, you can use your EBT at participating restaurants. Not all counties have the Restaurant Meals Program and not all fast food places participate. You need to look for restaurants that display the "CalFresh EBT Accepted Here" sign or check your county's RMP list.

I use mine at Jack in the Box all the time and im not homeless or disabled! Never had a problem, just swipe and go

You definitely cannot use regular CalFresh benefits at fast food restaurants unless you qualify for the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) as the previous poster mentioned. However, if you're working long hours and struggling to cook, here are some options that ARE allowed with regular CalFresh: 1. Grocery store deli sections - you can buy prepared foods like rotisserie chicken, pre-made salads, etc. 2. Pre-made sandwiches and wraps from grocery stores 3. Frozen meals that just need microwaving 4. Pre-chopped vegetables and other time-saving ingredients The key distinction is that CalFresh can buy cold prepared foods intended for home consumption, but not hot prepared foods or foods meant to be eaten at the store. This is federal SNAP policy, not just California.

I tried using my ebt at mcdonalds once and got so embarrased when they said no!!! The guy behind me in line was giving me dirty looks like i was trying to cheat the system or something 😢 wish they would make the rules more clear when they send the card

What county are you in? That actually matters a LOT. The Restaurant Meals Program isn't available in every California county. As of 2025, only Alameda, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties have active RMP programs. If you're not in one of those counties, then it's a moot point anyway since no restaurants in your area would be authorized to accept EBT for prepared foods regardless of your eligibility status.

Just to add something nobody's mentioned - even if you don't qualify for restaurant meals, you CAN use CalFresh at some farmers markets and many give you bonus dollars when you spend your EBT there (like spend $10 get $20 in produce). WAY better deal than fast food and you can get some quick easy foods there too sometimes like pre-made hummus, bread, etc.

Has anyone else been stuck on hold with the CalFresh office for HOURS trying to ask simple questions like this? I swear I spent my whole day off last month just trying to get through to ask about where I could use my card!

One more thing - I found out recently that some grocery delivery services like Instacart accept EBT now too. That might help with your limited time situation. You can order groceries including ready-to-eat items that are EBT eligible and have them delivered. Amazon Fresh also takes EBT. The delivery fees aren't covered by CalFresh, but the eligible food items are.

Hey Justin! I'm in a similar situation with crazy work hours and just wanted to share what's been working for me. Since you're in Contra Costa County (like me!), I've found some great shortcuts that don't require cooking: 1. Costco's prepared foods section is amazing - their rotisserie chicken, pre-made salads, and wraps are all EBT eligible and can feed you for days 2. Safeway's deli counter has tons of options - sandwiches, pasta salads, etc. 3. 7-Eleven actually accepts EBT for their packaged sandwiches and cold foods (not the hot dogs or pizza, but the refrigerated stuff) Also, don't sleep on meal prep shortcuts! Things like pre-cooked rice packets, canned soups, and those steam-in-bag vegetables can make quick meals when you get home. I keep a stash of these for my 12-hour shifts. Way cheaper than restaurants and still super convenient!

Welcome to CalFresh, Justin! I see you've gotten some great advice already. Just wanted to add that many gas stations with convenience stores (like Shell, Chevron with their markets) also accept EBT for their packaged cold foods - think pre-made sandwiches, salads, yogurt parfaits, etc. This can be super convenient when you're on the road between shifts. Also, if you download the USDA's SNAP Retailer Locator app, it shows you every store in your area that accepts EBT, which helped me find some smaller markets I didn't even know about that had great prepared food sections. One last tip - many grocery stores have "grab and go" sections now specifically for busy people like us. They're usually near the deli counter and have things like protein boxes, wraps, and meal kits that just need minimal assembly. All EBT eligible and way more nutritious than fast food would be anyway!

Just wanted to jump in here since I'm also pretty new to CalFresh (got approved about 3 months ago). One thing that really helped me with the time crunch was discovering that many grocery stores have apps where you can add items to your cart throughout the week, then just do a quick pickup after work. Saves tons of time wandering the aisles when you're exhausted. Also, if you're working double shifts regularly, you might want to look into whether you qualify for expedited CalFresh processing for any future changes to your case. The income from those long hours might actually help you in some ways, but it's good to stay on top of reporting requirements. Another quick tip - Dollar Tree accepts EBT and has surprisingly decent frozen meals and pantry staples that can help stretch your benefits between grocery runs. Not gourmet, but when you're working crazy hours, sometimes you just need something fast and filling! Welcome to the program, and don't feel bad about the restaurant confusion - I think we've all been there at some point! 😊