Which fast food places in Bakersfield accept EBT/CalFresh?
Hi everyone! I just got approved for CalFresh benefits and loaded my EBT card. I work long hours and sometimes need to grab something quick on the go. Does anyone know which fast food places in Bakersfield take EBT? I heard some places might accept it but I'm not sure which ones or if there are special conditions. Really appreciate any info!
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Oliver Wagner
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.
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GalaxyGazer
AuthorThank you! I didn't know about the Restaurant Meals Program. I'm not in any of those categories though - I'm 32 and working full time. Guess I can't use EBT at fast food places then? That's disappointing.
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Natasha Kuznetsova
ya subway takes it 4 sure cuz my cousin uses his ebt there all the time in bakersfield on ming ave
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Oliver Wagner
Your cousin might be eligible for the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) which allows specific populations (elderly, disabled, homeless) to use EBT at certain restaurants. Not everyone with CalFresh qualifies for RMP - you have to meet the special criteria.
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Javier Mendoza
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.
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GalaxyGazer
AuthorThat makes more sense now! So I can get cold prepared food but not hot food. I'll check out some of the gas stations and grocery stores for those ready-made sandwiches. Thanks for explaining!
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Emma Thompson
This is so confusing!!! I've been using my EBT at McDonald's for months?? Now you guys saying I can't?????
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Oliver Wagner
If you're able to use your EBT at McDonald's, you probably qualify for the Restaurant Meals Program. Do you receive SSI or are you registered as homeless with the county? Those who qualify should have a special designation on their account that allows restaurant purchases. If you're not sure why you qualify, you might want to check with your caseworker to make sure everything is set up correctly.
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Malik Davis
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!
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Isabella Santos
I've had similar experiences with inconsistent acceptance. I recently discovered the Claimyr service (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to an actual CalFresh worker quickly instead of waiting on hold forever. I used it to sort out my RMP eligibility confusion and finally got clear answers. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. The worker I spoke with confirmed the official RMP participating restaurant list and explained why some locations were no longer participating.
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StarStrider
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!
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GalaxyGazer
AuthorThis is super helpful! I haven't tried meal prepping before but it makes a lot of sense financially. Do you have any simple recipe ideas that work well for meal prep and don't take too much time? I'm really not much of a cook honestly.
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StarStrider
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.
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GalaxyGazer
AuthorThose all sound doable even for someone like me! Thanks for the suggestions - I'll try the wraps and rotisserie chicken ones this weekend. Definitely better than being disappointed at fast food places that won't take my EBT.
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Noah Torres
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!
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