Where can I use EBT/SNAP at restaurants in Kern County? (Restaurant Meals Program)

I live in Kern County too and it's SO frustrating how they don't keep this info updated!! Last I checked (around February 2025), these places were accepting EBT in Bakersfield:\n\n- Subway (the one on Ming Ave for sure)\n- Denny's (both locations)\n- Jack in the Box (most locations)\n- Papa Murphy's (take n bake pizza)\n- SOME 7-Eleven stores (totally random which ones)\n\nThere were supposed to be more added but the county is always slow with updates. The RMP program is really helpful but they do a terrible job publicizing it!!

Thank you so much! This is really helpful to start with. Do you know if any of the Chinese restaurants participate? My dad loves Chinese food and it would make his week if we could use his benefits there.

theres a big yellow sticker on the door of places that take ebt for hot food. i seen it at the burger king on white lane too so add that 1 to the list

Oh good to know about Burger King! They must have been added recently. And yeah those yellow stickers are supposed to be on all participating restaurants but half the time employees take them down because they don't know what they are 🙄

The Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) in Kern County has expanded significantly in 2025. As someone who works with CalFresh recipients regularly, I recommend checking BenefitsCal.com and using the \

Thank you for the detailed information! He does qualify (he's 76) but I'll double check that his case is coded properly. I didn't know about the BenefitsCal feature - will definitely check that out. Thank you!

DONT BOTHER WITH THE COUNTY PHONE LINE!!! I tried calling for THREE DAYS trying to get this exact same information last month and never got through. Complete waste of time. The whole system is designed to make it impossible to get help.\n\nI eventually had to physically go to the office on M Street and wait for 2 hours just to get a printed list that was probably outdated anyway. They don't care about making this information accessible.

I had the same problem trying to call about my benefits last week! I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual person at the Kern County office in like 10 minutes. They basically call for you and get through the hold system. Saved me hours of frustration. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8

This is not a complete list, but I volunteer at a senior center, and we keep track of RMP locations that our members report success using their EBT cards at. In addition to what others mentioned, these Kern County restaurants were participating as of April 2025:\n\n• Domino's Pizza (most locations)\n• El Pollo Loco (Gosford & White Lane locations)\n• Carl's Jr (multiple locations)\n• Golden Corral (helpful for seniors who want a full meal)\n• Pizza Hut (delivery not included, in-store only)\n\nThere's also a new rule that participating restaurants must clearly display the RMP logo at the entrance and at registers, so that should help identify them. Hope this helps your father!

This is fantastic information! Golden Corral would be perfect for my dad - he loves having options. I'll look for the logos when we're out. Thank you for the updated list.

i tried to use my ebt at taco bell last week and the cashier looked at me like i was crazy even tho they have the yellow sticker. lots of employees dont even know their own store takes it. so embarrasing lol. make sure ur dad knows to insist they try the card if theyre on the list but say they dont take it

This happens ALL THE TIME 😡 I had to show a manager at Denny's their own sticker once! They kept telling me they don't take EBT until the manager finally came over and was like

cant u just buy groceries insted? its cheaper n u get more food that way

We do buy groceries too, but my dad has arthritis that makes cooking difficult some days. It would be nice to have the restaurant option for those times when he's in a lot of pain. Plus it gives him a chance to get out of the house.

One important update for everyone in this thread: Kern County expanded their RMP program substantially in March 2025. There's now an official mobile app called \

This is incredible news! I just downloaded the app and it shows 37 participating restaurants in Kern County! Thank you so much for sharing this - it's exactly what we needed.

Just wanted to add that I've been using the Restaurant Meals Program in Kern County for about 6 months now and it's been a lifesaver! A few tips for your dad: 1. Always ask to speak to a manager if the cashier says they don't take EBT - many employees genuinely don't know about the program 2. The McDonald's on California Ave started accepting EBT in late March 2025 (not sure if it's in the app yet) 3. Some locations have daily limits on how much you can spend with EBT, so call ahead for larger orders Also, I noticed Panda Express on Rosedale Highway has the RMP sticker up now, so that might be perfect for your dad's Chinese food cravings! The program really has expanded a lot this year - it's about time they made it easier for seniors to access hot meals.

Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! As a newcomer to this community, I'm amazed by how supportive and knowledgeable you all are. I just moved to Bakersfield last month and my mom (who's 82) will be moving in with me soon. She's been hesitant about applying for CalFresh benefits, but seeing how the Restaurant Meals Program can give her independence and dining options is really encouraging. I downloaded the "Kern County EBT Restaurants" app that Anna mentioned and wow - 37 locations is way more than I expected! The map feature is super helpful too. I'm definitely going to show this thread to my mom to help convince her that the program is worth applying for. One quick question - does anyone know if the RMP benefits work the same way as regular EBT for groceries, or are there different rules for restaurant purchases? Want to make sure I explain it correctly to her.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm a social worker here in Kern County and I work with a lot of seniors who could benefit from the Restaurant Meals Program but don't know about it. I'm definitely going to share that app recommendation with my clients - having a real-time list of participating restaurants is huge! One thing I'd add for anyone helping elderly family members: when you first take them to try using EBT at a restaurant, go during off-peak hours if possible. The staff usually has more time to help figure out the payment process, and it's less stressful for seniors who might feel self-conscious about using benefits. Also, I've found that franchise locations (like the chains mentioned here) tend to have better-trained staff on EBT procedures than independent restaurants, so they're good places to start. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of community support that makes a real difference for people navigating these programs!

Here is a 2025 updated list for you guys. Hope this helps.

Updated list

@Abraham Vaughn Thank you for mentioning the updated list! I don't see it attached to your message though - could you share the actual list or let us know where to find it? With all the changes to the RMP program in 2025, having a current list would be super helpful for everyone in this thread. Even just posting a few key additions that might not be in the app yet would be great!

Hey everyone! I'm new to this community and just wanted to say how amazing this thread has been to read through. My mom is 68 and recently qualified for CalFresh benefits here in Kern County, and I had no idea about the Restaurant Meals Program until I found this discussion. I downloaded that "Kern County EBT Restaurants" app that Anna mentioned and it's been a game changer! We tried the Panda Express on Rosedale Highway yesterday (thanks Charlie for that tip!) and it worked perfectly. The staff was really helpful and my mom was so happy to be able to get her favorite orange chicken without me having to cook. One thing I learned - we went during the lunch rush and it was pretty hectic, so definitely taking Mohammad's advice about off-peak hours for next time. Also wanted to confirm that the McDonald's on California Ave does accept EBT now - we stopped by this morning and they had the yellow RMP sticker up. This community is so supportive and informative. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and making it easier for families like mine to navigate these programs!

Hi everyone! I'm brand new to this community and honestly overwhelmed by how helpful and detailed all these responses are. My grandfather just qualified for CalFresh benefits and we had no idea about the Restaurant Meals Program until I stumbled across this thread while searching for information. I've been taking notes on all the restaurants mentioned here and already downloaded that app Anna recommended. The fact that there are 37 participating locations in Kern County is incredible - we thought there might be maybe 5 or 6 places at most! Quick question for those of you who have experience with this: are there any restaurants that are particularly senior-friendly in terms of seating/atmosphere? My grandfather uses a walker and sometimes needs a little extra time, so I want to make sure we choose places where he'll feel comfortable. The Golden Corral suggestion sounds perfect since he can take his time at a buffet. Thanks so much for building such a supportive community here. Reading through everyone's experiences has given us so much confidence to actually try using these benefits!

Hi everyone! I'm new to this community and just moved to Bakersfield last week. My 74-year-old aunt will be staying with me for a few months while she recovers from surgery, and she just got approved for CalFresh benefits. This thread has been absolutely incredible - I had no idea the Restaurant Meals Program had expanded so much in 2025! I've been frantically googling for days trying to find current information and stumbled across this discussion. Already downloaded the "Kern County EBT Restaurants" app that Anna mentioned and wow, 37 locations is amazing! Quick question - has anyone tried using EBT at any of the Mexican restaurants in town? My aunt loves authentic Mexican food and it would really lift her spirits during recovery if we could find some good options. Also, are there any breakfast places that participate? She's always been an early riser and loves going out for coffee and eggs. Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences and creating such a welcoming space for people navigating these programs. This community is exactly what I was hoping to find!

Hi everyone! I'm brand new to this community and this thread has been absolutely amazing to read through. My mom is 71 and just qualified for CalFresh benefits here in Kern County, and I honestly had no idea the Restaurant Meals Program even existed until I found this discussion! I've been taking screenshots of all the restaurant suggestions and already downloaded that "Kern County EBT Restaurants" app that Anna mentioned. The fact that it shows locations on a map is so helpful - my mom doesn't drive much anymore so being able to see which participating restaurants are closest to us is perfect. One thing I wanted to add that might help other newcomers: I called the Golden Corral location yesterday to ask about their RMP participation and the manager was super knowledgeable and friendly about it. She even mentioned they have senior discounts that can be combined with EBT payments, which is awesome! For anyone hesitant about trying this program, this community has given me so much confidence that it's worth it. My mom has been pretty isolated since my dad passed last year, and having the option to get out for a nice meal is going to be such a boost for her mental health too. Thank you all for being so welcoming and sharing your real-world experiences - it makes navigating these programs so much less overwhelming!

Hi everyone! I'm completely new to this community and just want to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been. My grandmother is 79 and recently moved to Bakersfield to live with my family. She just got approved for CalFresh benefits and I had absolutely no idea about the Restaurant Meals Program until I found this discussion through a Google search. I've spent the last hour reading through everyone's experiences and taking notes - the level of detail and genuine care in this community is amazing! Already downloaded the "Kern County EBT Restaurants" app that Anna mentioned and I'm blown away that there are 37 participating locations. The map feature is perfect since my grandmother doesn't get around as easily as she used to. I'm definitely going to start with some of the senior-friendly places mentioned here like Golden Corral and Denny's. The tip about going during off-peak hours is so smart - my grandmother sometimes needs extra time and can feel self-conscious in busy environments. One quick question: has anyone had experience using EBT at any of the pizza places mentioned? My grandmother loves pizza but has arthritis that makes cooking difficult, so being able to get a hot meal delivered or picked up would be perfect for her bad days. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space and sharing your real experiences. This thread has given me so much hope and practical information for helping my grandmother maintain her independence and dignity while using these benefits!

Hi everyone! I'm new to this community and just wanted to say thank you for this incredibly informative thread. My 68-year-old mother just moved to Bakersfield and qualifies for CalFresh benefits, but I had no idea about the Restaurant Meals Program until I found this discussion. I've been reading through everyone's experiences and already downloaded the "Kern County EBT Restaurants" app that Anna mentioned - 37 locations is way more than I expected! The map feature will be so helpful since my mom doesn't drive much anymore. I'm planning to start with some of the senior-friendly places mentioned here like Golden Corral and Denny's. The advice about going during off-peak hours and asking for a manager if staff seem unsure about EBT is really valuable. One question for the group: has anyone tried using EBT at any coffee shops or cafes in Kern County? My mom loves her morning coffee routine and it would be wonderful if she could maintain that social aspect while using her benefits. Also, are there any places that are particularly good for seniors dining alone? She's still adjusting to being on her own after my dad passed. Thank you all for building such a supportive community and sharing your real-world experiences. This thread has given me so much confidence about helping my mom navigate these programs while maintaining her independence and dignity!

Hi everyone! I'm brand new to this community and just moved to Bakersfield last month. My 73-year-old father will be moving in with me next week and he just got approved for CalFresh benefits. I had absolutely no idea the Restaurant Meals Program existed until I stumbled across this amazing thread! I've spent the last two hours reading through everyone's experiences and taking detailed notes - the level of support and practical advice in this community is incredible. Already downloaded the "Kern County EBT Restaurants" app that Anna mentioned and I'm amazed there are 37 participating locations with a map feature! Based on what I've read here, I'm planning to start with Golden Corral (love that senior discounts can be combined with EBT!) and maybe Denny's during off-peak hours. The tip about asking for managers if cashiers seem confused about EBT is so valuable - I never would have thought of that. One quick question: has anyone tried any of the participating restaurants for takeout orders? My dad sometimes has mobility issues and being able to call ahead and just pick up food would be perfect for his harder days. Thank you all for creating such a welcoming space and sharing your real-world experiences. This thread has given me so much confidence about helping my dad use these benefits while maintaining his independence. Looking forward to being part of this supportive community!

Hi everyone! I'm completely new to this community and just joined after discovering this incredibly helpful thread. My 75-year-old uncle is moving to Bakersfield next month to live with our family, and he just qualified for CalFresh benefits. I had no clue the Restaurant Meals Program even existed until I found this discussion! I've been reading through all the amazing advice and experiences shared here - this community is so supportive and knowledgeable. Already downloaded the "Kern County EBT Restaurants" app that Anna mentioned and I'm blown away that there are 37 locations with GPS mapping! Based on everyone's recommendations, I'm planning to start with some of the senior-friendly places like Golden Correl and Denny's during off-peak hours. The tip about asking for managers if staff seem confused about EBT acceptance is gold - I never would have thought of that approach. My uncle is a bit tech-shy, so I'm creating a simple printed list of participating restaurants near our house based on the app and all the locations mentioned in this thread. The Panda Express and McDonald's on California Ave confirmations are especially helpful since those are close to us. Thank you all for sharing your real experiences and making these programs less intimidating to navigate. This thread has given me so much confidence about helping my uncle maintain his independence while using his benefits. Looking forward to being part of such a caring community!