Select fast-casual restaurants accept EBT payment

A federal program enables some locations of participating fast-casual restaurant chains to accept electronic benefit transfer (EBT) as payment for prepared hot food.

The Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) allows elderly, disabled, and homeless individuals in Arizona, California (limited participation), Florida (limited participation), Hawaii, Michigan and Rhode Island to use federal EBT cards, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits of food stamps, which typically are used to pay for groceries, to purchase hot meals at restaurants.

States with RMP let EBT card holders use the SNAP Benefits for Hot Food offering to extend the usability of their EBT cards to include prepared meals at authorized restaurants. Eligibility for the RMP is determined at the state level, with criteria focusing on age, disability status and housing stability. 

Customers residing in or visiting states that participate in the RMP, locating restaurants that accept EBT payments can look for "Participating Restaurant: SNAP Restaurant Meals Program" signage with a knife and fork logo, or check the local Department of Human Services office and online resources like the USDA National Directory of SNAP Retailers.

List of restaurants that accept EBT cards, SNAP or food stamps (varies by state):

Burger King
Carl's Jr.
Church's Chicken
Del Taco
Denny's
Domino's Pizza
El Pollo Loco
Great Steaks
Jack in the Box
Jamba Juice
KFC
Papa Murphy's
Popeye's
Pizza Hut
Quiznos
Rally's Hamburgers
Subway
Taco Bell
Wendy's
Wienerschnitzel
24th St Pizza & Gyros
Blimpie
Burger Shoppe
CiCi's Pizza
Dairy Queen
Eegees
Fat Sub
Firestone Subs
Golden Corral
Harris and Smith Coffee Company
Helpings Cafe and Market
Jimmy and Joe's Pizzeria
Moon Light Family Restaurant
Papa John's Pizza
Smoke Dem Bones BBQ
Speedy Street Tacos Corp
Tasty Box
Uncle Sams
WaBa Grill

Restaurants that don't accept EBT, SNAP or food stamps in any state:

A&W Restaurants
Arby's
Chick-fil-A
Chipotle
Cinnabon
Dairy Queen
Dunkin' Donuts
Einstein Bros. Bagels
Five Guys
Hardee's
In-N-Out Burger
Krispy Kreme
Long John Silver's
McDonald's
Panda Express
Panera Bread
Qdoba Mexican Grill
Shake Shack
Starbucks
TCBY
Tim Hortons
Whataburger
Wingstop
WingStreet
Zaxby's

[Read more: Retailers join White House effort to combat hunger]