Which fast food places in Bakersfield accept EBT/CalFresh?

In California, some fast food places CAN accept EBT through the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP), but only if you qualify. To use EBT at restaurants in Bakersfield, you need to be in one of these categories: elderly (60+), disabled, or homeless. If you meet one of those criteria, places like Subway, Jack in the Box, Carl's Jr, and some Domino's in Bakersfield accept EBT. Just confirm with the specific location first as not all franchise locations participate.

ya subway takes it 4 sure cuz my cousin uses his ebt there all the time in bakersfield on ming ave

The rules can be confusing! If you don't qualify for the Restaurant Meals Program, you CAN'T use your EBT for hot prepared foods or fast food. But you CAN use it at grocery stores and places like Walmart/Target for cold sandwich ingredients, ready-to-eat cold sandwiches, cold drinks, snacks, etc. I sometimes grab a premade sandwich from Walmart when I'm working long shifts - it's not ideal but it works! Also, gas station mini-marts like AMPM and some 7-Eleven stores accept EBT for qualifying food items.

This is so confusing!!! I've been using my EBT at McDonald's for months?? Now you guys saying I can't?????

NONE OF THE PLACES TAKE EBT ANYMORE! This new program is a joke. I tried using mine at the Jack in the Box on California Ave last week and they said their machine was "broken" sure it was 🙄 Then I went to KFC and they said they stopped taking it completely! The county keeps changing the rules and nobody knows what's going on. Such a headache trying to use these benefits we qualify for!

If you don't qualify for the Restaurant Meals Program (elderly, disabled, homeless), here are some Bakersfield alternatives I use with my EBT: 1. Grocery store deli sections - many have ready-to-eat cold items 2. Walmart & Target - grab cold sandwiches, salads, protein packs 3. Food Maxx - decent prepared cold food section 4. Some AMPM and 7-Eleven stores - for qualifying cold food items I meal prep on Sundays for my work week lunches using my CalFresh benefits, which saves A LOT more money than eating out anyway. Gets easier once you get into the routine!

Sure! Here are some super easy meal prep ideas that I use with my CalFresh benefits: - Rotisserie chicken (cold) + bagged salad + dressing - Wraps with lunch meat, cheese and pre-cut veggies - Tuna + crackers + fruit - Pre-cooked hard boiled eggs + cheese sticks + cut veggies - Greek yogurt + granola + berries All these ingredients are EBT eligible and require almost no actual cooking. You can prepare 4-5 meals in about 20 minutes on Sunday night. I spend about $50/week on EBT for all my breakfasts and lunches this way.

Just wanted to add that some Taco Bell locations in Bakersfield participate in the Restaurant Meals Program too! I'm disabled and use my EBT there sometimes. The one on Rosedale Highway definitely takes it, but like others mentioned, you have to qualify for RMP first. Also, pro tip - if you're looking for quick grab-and-go options with EBT, Costco (if you have a membership) has amazing ready-to-eat cold items in their deli section. Their chicken salad and wraps are really good and filling!

Hey everyone! As someone new to CalFresh, this thread has been incredibly helpful. I'm also working full-time and don't qualify for the Restaurant Meals Program, so I really appreciate all the practical alternatives you've shared. I had no idea about the cold vs hot food rules - that explains why I was so confused when I tried to use my EBT at a few places last week! The meal prep ideas from @StarStrider sound perfect for my situation. I'm definitely going to try the rotisserie chicken and wrap suggestions. Thanks for taking the time to explain everything so clearly!

Great thread everyone! I'm also new to CalFresh and had the same confusion about fast food places. After reading through all these responses, I think I understand now - since I'm working and don't qualify for RMP, I need to focus on grocery stores and gas stations for quick meal options. I really like the meal prep suggestions from @StarStrider - those sound way more budget-friendly than trying to find restaurants that accept EBT anyway. Does anyone know if the Arco AM/PM locations around Bakersfield are good for grabbing EBT-eligible snacks and cold items? I pass by several on my commute and it would be convenient to stop there when I'm running late.

This has been such an informative thread! I'm also new to CalFresh and was completely lost about the fast food situation. Reading everyone's experiences really cleared things up - I had no idea about the Restaurant Meals Program restrictions or the hot vs cold food rules. Since I don't qualify for RMP either, I'm definitely going to try the meal prep approach that @StarStrider suggested. The rotisserie chicken and wrap ideas sound perfect for my work schedule. I also appreciate everyone mentioning the gas station options - there's a 7-Eleven right by my job that I can check out for backup meals when I'm unprepared. It's reassuring to know there are so many others figuring out these same challenges!

As someone who just joined this community and recently got CalFresh benefits, I can't thank everyone enough for this detailed discussion! I was definitely one of those people who assumed you could use EBT at any fast food place, so learning about the Restaurant Meals Program restrictions was eye-opening. Since I'm 28 and working, I clearly don't qualify for RMP. The meal prep suggestions from @StarStrider are exactly what I needed - I've been wasting so much time (and getting frustrated) trying to find places that would take my EBT for quick meals. The rotisserie chicken and wrap ideas sound perfect for someone like me who's always rushing between work and other responsibilities. I'm also going to check out that AMPM on Ming Avenue that @Charlotte mentioned for backup options. It's so helpful to have a community where people actually explain the real-world logistics of using these benefits!

As someone who's new to both CalFresh and this community, I want to echo what everyone else has said about how helpful this thread has been! I got my EBT card last month and made the same mistake of assuming I could use it at McDonald's and other fast food places. After getting turned away at a few locations, I was really discouraged and thought there might be something wrong with my card. Now I understand it's all about the Restaurant Meals Program eligibility - which unfortunately I don't qualify for since I'm 24 and employed. The meal prep suggestions from @StarStrider are a game changer though! I never considered how much more cost-effective it would be to buy ingredients and prepare simple meals ahead of time. The rotisserie chicken and wrap combinations sound perfect for my hectic work schedule. I'm also glad to know about the gas station and convenience store options for those days when I inevitably forget to meal prep. This community is such a valuable resource for navigating all these confusing CalFresh rules that aren't clearly explained anywhere else!

As someone who just joined this community and recently started using CalFresh, this entire discussion has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm 26 and work full-time, so like many others here, I don't qualify for the Restaurant Meals Program. I had the same frustrating experience of trying to use my EBT at several fast food places in Bakersfield before finding this thread - wish someone had explained the RMP restrictions when I first got my benefits! The meal prep ideas from @StarStrider are exactly what I needed to hear. I've been spending way too much mental energy trying to figure out which restaurants might accept my card instead of focusing on more practical (and budget-friendly) solutions. I'm definitely going to try the rotisserie chicken and wrap combinations this weekend - they sound perfect for my busy work schedule and require minimal cooking skills. Thanks to everyone who shared their real-world experiences and tips. It's so reassuring to find a community where people actually help each other navigate these confusing CalFresh rules instead of just complaining about them. Looking forward to learning more from all of you!

Hey everyone! I just got approved for CalFresh last week and this thread has been a lifesaver - thank you all for sharing your experiences! Like so many others here, I'm 30 and working full-time so I don't qualify for the Restaurant Meals Program. I had no idea about the hot vs cold food restrictions and spent my first day with the EBT card getting turned away at three different places in Bakersfield. So frustrating! But reading through all these comments, especially @StarStrider's meal prep suggestions, has completely changed my approach. I'm planning to hit up Walmart this weekend to try the rotisserie chicken and wrap combo - that sounds perfect for my crazy work schedule. I also appreciate everyone mentioning the gas stations and convenience stores as backup options. It's such a relief to find a community where people actually explain how this all works in real life instead of just the confusing official rules. Looking forward to learning more tips from all of you as I navigate this CalFresh journey!

As someone who just joined this community and recently got my CalFresh benefits, I can't thank everyone enough for this incredibly helpful thread! Like so many others here, I'm 27 and working full-time, so I don't qualify for the Restaurant Meals Program. I made the same mistakes - went to McDonald's and Burger King thinking my EBT would work everywhere, only to be turned away and left feeling confused and frustrated. This discussion has been such an eye-opener about the hot vs cold food rules and RMP restrictions that really should be explained better when you first get your card! @StarStrider's meal prep suggestions are exactly what I needed - the rotisserie chicken and wrap ideas sound perfect for my busy schedule and non-existent cooking skills. I'm definitely going to try those this weekend along with checking out some of the gas station options people mentioned for backup meals. It's so reassuring to find a community where people share real-world practical advice instead of just the confusing official rules. Thank you all for making this CalFresh journey so much less overwhelming!

As someone who just got approved for CalFresh and is new to this community, this entire thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm 29 and working full-time, so like many others here, I don't qualify for the Restaurant Meals Program. I had the same disappointing experience of trying to use my EBT at fast food places around Bakersfield - went to three different locations before realizing there were special restrictions I didn't know about. The hot vs cold food rules and RMP eligibility requirements really should be explained clearly when you first receive your benefits instead of leaving us to figure it out through trial and error! @StarStrider's meal prep suggestions are exactly what I needed to hear - the rotisserie chicken and wrap combinations sound perfect for my hectic work schedule and require minimal cooking skills. I'm planning to try those this weekend along with checking out some of the convenience store options mentioned for backup meals. It's so comforting to find a supportive community where people share practical real-world advice about navigating CalFresh instead of just the confusing official guidelines. Thank you all for making this process so much less overwhelming for newcomers like me!

As someone who just got approved for CalFresh and joined this community, this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm 28 and work full-time, so like many others here, I don't qualify for the Restaurant Meals Program. I made the same mistake of assuming I could use my EBT at McDonald's and KFC - got turned away at both places last week and was so confused! Reading through everyone's experiences really cleared up the hot vs cold food restrictions and RMP eligibility requirements that definitely weren't explained when I got my card. @StarStrider's meal prep suggestions are exactly what I needed - the rotisserie chicken and wrap ideas sound perfect for my busy schedule and zero cooking skills. I'm going to try those this weekend along with checking out the AMPM locations people mentioned for quick backup options. It's so reassuring to find a community where people actually share practical advice about navigating CalFresh in the real world instead of just the confusing official rules. Thank you all for making this so much less overwhelming for newcomers!

As someone who just got approved for CalFresh and is completely new to this community, this thread has been absolutely incredible for clearing up so much confusion! I'm 26 and working full-time, so like most people here, I don't qualify for the Restaurant Meals Program. I spent my first week with my EBT card getting turned away at Subway, McDonald's, and Jack in the Box before stumbling across this discussion. The hot vs cold food restrictions and RMP eligibility requirements really should be the FIRST thing they explain when you get your benefits - not something you have to discover through embarrassing trial and error! @StarStrider's meal prep suggestions are honestly a lifesaver - the rotisserie chicken and wrap combinations sound perfect for someone like me who's always rushing between work and other commitments but has zero cooking experience. I'm definitely going to try those this weekend along with checking out some of the gas station options for backup meals. It's so comforting to know there's a whole community of people navigating these same challenges and willing to share practical real-world advice. Thank you everyone for making CalFresh feel so much less overwhelming for newcomers like me!

As someone who just got approved for CalFresh last month and is brand new to this community, this entire discussion has been such a lifesaver! I'm 23 and working two part-time jobs, so like everyone else here, I don't qualify for the Restaurant Meals Program. I made all the same mistakes - tried using my EBT at Taco Bell, McDonald's, and even Pizza Hut before finding this thread and understanding why I kept getting turned away. It's honestly frustrating that these important restrictions aren't explained clearly when you first receive your benefits! @StarStrider's meal prep suggestions are exactly what I needed to hear - the rotisserie chicken and wrap ideas sound perfect for my crazy schedule juggling two jobs with basically no cooking experience. I'm planning to try the hard-boiled eggs and cheese sticks combo too since that sounds super portable. I also appreciate everyone mentioning the convenience store options for those inevitable days when meal prep doesn't happen. It's so reassuring to find a community where people share actual practical advice about making CalFresh work in real life instead of just the confusing official rules. Thank you all for making this journey so much less overwhelming for newcomers like me!