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Did you know there are restaurants that accept EBT in California? These restaurants accept food stamps!
California allows homeless, elderly (60+) and disabled SNAP recipients to participate in the Restaurant Meals Program. To qualify, you must be older than age 60, receive disability benefits or lack steady housing.
If you qualify, you don’t need to apply. Your EBT will be automatically authorized for these purchases. Be sure you tell the cashier you’re using CalFresh benefits so the fast food restaurants that accept EBT know not to charge you any sales or meal taxes!
The following counties participate (as of September 2020).
Restaurants that Accept EBT in California by County
We’ve listed the counties in alphabetical order for your convenience.
Alameda County
Alameda County is home to five restaurants that accept EBT in California:
- Carl’s Jr. (870 Marina Village Parkway in Alameda)
- Carl’s Jr (3770 Telegraph Ave in Oakland)
- Pizza Hut (2617 Decoto Rd in Union City)
- El Torero Taqueria (5801 International Blvd in Oakland)
- Jamba Juice (3962 Mowry Ave in Fremont)
Please note that restaurant participation varies by location. For an exact list of locations, please visit the Alameda County website.
Fresno County
Fresno County appears to have some restaurants that accept EBT in California, according to information I found on the Riverside County website. However, I was unable to find an exact restaurant list.
Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County boasts the most restaurants that accept EBT in California! If you qualify for the Restaurant Meals Program, you can use your food stamps funds for purchases at the following restaurants.
However, you must remember that not all locations participate. Click here to see the addresses of participating restaurants.
- A & T Burgers
- Ameci Pizza and Pasta
- Angelo’s Burger
- Arby’s
- Art’s Famous Chili Dog
- B & R’s Old Fashion Burger
- Baby Brother Pizza
- Banh Mi Che Cali
- Bayou Grille
- BBQ King
- Big Al’s Pizza
- Bobo’s Hamburger
- Bonnie Smoking BBQ
- Bravo’s Burger
- Broadway Food Corner
- Brother’s BBQ
- Burger King
- Burger Zone
- Café Creole
- California Cheeseburgers
- California Steak & Fries
- Campus Kitchen
- Captain Tony’s Pizza & Pasta
- Carl’s Jr
- Carnitas Michoacán
- Ceiba Restaurant
- China Beauty Food Express
- Chinatown Express
- Cliff’s Texas Style Burritos
- Corner Kafe
- Covina Burgers
- Cypress Best Burgers
- D’s Original Take Out Grill
- Daily Donuts House
- Del Taco
- Deli Robert’s Pizza
- Denny’s
- Diana’s Mexican Food Restaurant
- Dino’s Burgers
- Dino’s Charbroiled Burgers
- Dominguez Pizza
- Dominos Pizza
- Downtown Catch 21
- El Huero
- El Merendero
- El Merendero Bakery
- El Merendero Restaurant
- El Pollo Loco
- El Salsabor
- Every Table
- Express Burger
- Fabulous Grill
- Fair Oaks Burger
- Fantasy Burgers
- Fatburger
- Fatburger & Buffalo’s Express
- Food for Life
- Flames X-Press Charbroiled Burgers
- Flip It Café
- Fred Down Home Burger
- Fresh and Meaty Burgers
- Freudian Sips
- Frosty King Burgers and Shakes
- Garduno’s
- Geronimo’s and Bamboo Terrace
- Golden Bird Chicken
- Golden Seafood Express & Hamburger
- Good Day Donuts & Mini Mart
- Goody’s Pizza
- Granny’s Kitchen
- Green Apple Grill
- Guido’s Pizza and Pasta
- Hawkins House of Burgers
- Hola Polla
- Hamburger Dan’s
- Honey’s Kettle Fried Chicken
- Hong Kong Express
- Hot Cazuelas
- Hungry Boy Burgers
- J & J BBQ Fish
- Jack in the Box
- JN’s Original BBQ Pit House
- John’s Burgers
- John’s Drive-in Hamburger
- Jordan’s Hot Dogs
- Kentucky Fried Chicken
- Kimbob & Ketta’s Louisiana Snoballs
- La Pizza Loca
- La Taquiza
- LA Harbor College Campus Cafeteria
- LA Mission College
- LA Trade Technical College Campus Cafeteria
- LOCOL
- Louis Burgers
- Louis Place Burgers
- Louisiana Famous Fried Chicken
- Louisiana Fried Chicken & Chinese Food
- Louisiana Fried Chicken & Fish Market
- Louisiana Hometown Seafood Fish and Taco
- Lucy’s Bakery
- Mama’s Chicken
- Mama’s International Tamales
- Maples Restaurant
- Margarita’s Place
- Marjoe’s Soul Food and Grill
- McDonald’s
- Master Burger
- Melo Burgers
- Michael’s Super Burgers
- Monster Burger
- New Hong Kong Chinese Express
- Original Louis Burgers
- Pacific Dining East LA College
- Pacific Dining LA Pierce College
- Pacific Dining LA Valley College
- Pacific Dining Los Angeles City College
- Pacific-Dining West Los Angeles College
- Pacific Restaurant
- Papa John’s
- Paradise Pastry & Café
- Perry Burger
- Pizza Hut
- Pollo Campero
- Popeye’s Chicken
- Primo Burgers
- R & J Southern Home Cook
- Rally’s Hamburger
- Randolph’s Smoke House
- RC Burgers
- Rio Meat Market & Restaurant
- Roman’s Pizza
- Rosita’s Panaderia and Restaurant
- Sam’s Burgers & Fast Food
- Sam’s Tacos
- Sana Food
- Smokin Telle’s BBQ & Grill
- Soul Food Kitchen
- Subrositas Pupusas
- Subway
- Taco Pete
- Tai Pan Chinese Fast Food
- Tam’s Burgers
- Ted’s Place
- The Arbor Grill
- The Best Burger
- The Marketplace
- The Pub Sports Grill
- The White House
- Tom’s Jr
- Tottino’s Pizza & Louisiana Fried Chicken
- Troy’s Burger
- Twins Smokehouse BBQ
- Valentino’s Pizza
- Vallarta Supermarkets
- Watt’s Burgers
- Wendy’s
- Wienerschnitzel
- Wing N Stuff
- Wing Stop
- Wok on the Wild Side
- Yoshinoya Beef Bowl.
Mariposa County
Mariposa County allegedly contains restaurants that accept EBT, according to information I found on the Riverside County website. However, I was unable to locate an exact restaurant list for this county.
Monterey County
Monterey County appears to be participating but I was unable to find a restaurant list yet.
Orange County
Orange County boasts more than 20 restaurants that accept EBT in California, and many of these restaurants have multiple locations that accept food stamps! Their pilot program began in 2018, and the program expanded considerably in 2020. You can find exact addresses for the participating locations here.
- Café Cultura
- Cali Veggie Restaurant
- Del Taco
- Dominos
- El Pollo Loco
- Guadalajara Meat Market
- Jack in the Box
- Kentucky Fried Chicken
- Kerostena Mediteranian Gril
- Lee’s Sandwiches
- Long Hai Restaurant
- McDonald’s
- Olligo Grill
- Pizza Hut
- Rose’s Sugar Shack
- Round Table Pizza
- Subway
- Teddy’s Cafe (Teriyaki, Burger & Sushi)
- Waba Grill
- Wendy’s
- Yoshinoya
Riverside County
Riverside County has implemented the Restaurant Meals Program! They have significantly expanded their program since our last update. Be sure to check here for exact addresses of participating locations!
- Del Taco
- Denny’s
- El Pollo Loco
- Fuego 360
- Jack in the Box
- La Villa Burgers
- McDonald’s
- Papa Johns
- Pizza Rev
- Red Maple Pizza
- Yoshinoya Beef Bowl
Sacramento County
Sacramento County has 10 restaurants that accept EBT in California! If you qualify, then you can use your EBT funds for purchases at the following restaurants. The restaurant is not allowed to charge tax or tips on your purchase. Also, participation may vary by location so be sure to check this list for exact addresses!
- Blimpie Subs & Salads
- Burger King
- El Pollo Loco
- New Rice Bowl express
- Oak Park Market
- Pizza Hut
- Quiznos
- Subway
- Taco Bell
- Wienerschnitzel
San Diego County
San Diego County is the hardest county to research when you’re looking for a list of participating fast food restaurants that accept EBT in California. You can find the list of participating restaurants and exact addresses in their 211 directory, which includes:
- Ackee Tree Jamaican Cuisine
- Big Value Market BBQ Grill Pizzeria
- Burger King
- Carls Jr
- Cetina’s Taco Shop
- Del Taco
- Denny’s
- Domino’s Pizza
- El Pollo Loco
- Fruiteria Don Chamango
- Fuertes NY Pizzeria
- Giant Pizza King
- Harvest International Market
- Jack in the Box
- Kentucky Fried Chicken
- La Morena Taco Shop
- Little Caesars Pizza
- McDonald’s
- Memo’s Bagel Cafe
- Pete’s BBQ and Burgers
- Rally’s
- Wendy’s
- Wienerschnitzel
- Wing Stop
- Yoshinoya
San Francisco County
San Francisco County offers the Restaurant Meals Program! If you qualify, you can use your food stamps funds at the following restaurants. For location details, click here.
- A2 Café
- Burger King
- Carl’s Jr
- Chico’s Grill
- Chico’s Pizza
- City College of SF
- Domino’s Pizza
- Emo’s Café
- Falafelland
- Golden City Inn
- Kentucky Fried Chicken
- Let’s Eat BBQ
- Los Hermanos
- Luna’s Coffee House
- Milan Pizza
- Pizza Hut
- Pollo Campero
- Subway
- Supremo Pizza
- Taco Bell
- Sweet Chinito
- Veraci Pizza
- Z Soul Café
San Luis Obispo County
San Luis Obispo County allows you to use your EBT funds for meals at the following restaurants. However, participation may vary by location. For location details, click here.
- Cregor’s Deli
- Denny’s
- Domino’s Pizza
- El Sinaloa Tortilleria
- Leo’s Café
- McDonald’s
- Mi Ranchito
- Sun-N-Buns
- Templeton Pizza
- Wendy’s
Santa Clara County
Santa Clara County participates in a Restaurant Meals Program, although locations may vary. Here’s a list of their restaurants that accept EBT in California:
- Burger King
- Carl Jr
- Earl of Sandwich
- El Pollo Loco
- Gaby’s Taqueria
- Straw Hat Pizza
- Subway
- Wingstop
Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County also participates, although locations vary. For more information, please click here.
- Subway
- Togo’s Sandwiches
Siskiyou County
It appears that Siskiyou County has started a restaurant meals program, but I have been unable to find restaurant lists.
Tehama County
It appears that Tehama Counties has started a restaurant meals program, but I have been unable to find restaurant lists.
There are no restaurants that accept EBT in California counties below:
If you live in one of the following counties, you will need to reach out to your county government leaders to request that they seek participation in the Restaurant Meals Program.
- Alpine
- Amador
- Butte
- Calaveras
- Colusa
- Contra Costa
- Del Norte
- El Dorado
- Glenn
- Humboldt
- Imperial
- Inyo
- Kern
- Kings
- Lake
- Lassen
- Madera
- Marin
- Mendocino
- Merced
- Modoc
- Mono
- Napa
- Nevada
- Placer
- Plumas
- San Benito
- San Bernadino
- San Joaquin
- San Mateo
- Santa Barbara
- Shasta
- Sierra
- Solano
- Sonoma
- Stanislaus
- Sutter
- Trinity
- Tulare
- Tuolumne
- Ventura
- Yolo
- Yuba
Do you have any other questions about restaurants that accept EBT in California? If so, let us know in the comments below!
