Restaurant meals
Restaurant Meals Program
The Restaurant Meals Program can let certain eligible SNAP households use EBT at approved restaurants in participating states.
Independent information tool. Not a government website.
Select your state below to see state-specific food-rule notes.
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How Restaurant EBT Rules Work
A state must operate the Restaurant Meals Program, every person in the SNAP household must fit an eligible category, and the restaurant must be approved. State participation alone does not make every household or restaurant eligible.
The state must participate
Restaurant EBT is not available everywhere. A state must operate the program and approve participating restaurants.
The household must be eligible
USDA eligibility covers households whose members are all age 60 or older, disabled under the program definition, experiencing homelessness, or the spouse of an eligible RMP client.
The restaurant must be approved
An EBT card working at one store does not mean every restaurant accepts it. The restaurant must be in the approved program.
Normal SNAP limits still matter
Outside the program or a disaster waiver, hot prepared restaurant food is usually not allowed with SNAP EBT.
Participating states
States With a Restaurant Meals Program
The table links each reviewed state page and an official program or restaurant resource where one was available. Approved restaurants can change, so use the linked state resource before visiting.
| State | Reviewed participation note | Official program or restaurant help |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Arizona participates in the Restaurant Meals Program, but only eligible households can use EBT at approved restaurants. | Arizona Nutrition Assistance RMP and restaurant list |
| California | California participates in the Restaurant Meals Program, but only eligible CalFresh households can use EBT at approved restaurants. | California Restaurant Meals Program and restaurant information |
| Illinois | USDA lists Illinois as participating in the Restaurant Meals Program in Cook and Franklin Counties only. | Illinois RMP eligibility rule |
| Maryland | Maryland participates in the Restaurant Meals Program, but only eligible households can use EBT at approved restaurants. | Maryland Restaurant Meals Program and restaurant list |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts participates in the Restaurant Meals Program, but only eligible households can use EBT at approved restaurants. | Massachusetts approved RMP restaurants and food trucks |
| Michigan | Michigan participates in the Restaurant Meals Program, but only eligible households can use EBT at approved restaurants. | Michigan Restaurant Meal Program map and restaurant list |
| New York | New York participates in the Restaurant Meals Program, but only eligible households can use EBT at approved restaurants. | New York RMP participating restaurants by county and borough |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island participates in the Restaurant Meals Program, but only eligible households can use EBT at approved restaurants. | Rhode Island Restaurant Meals Program and participant list |
| Virginia | Virginia participates in the Restaurant Meals Program, but only eligible households can use EBT at approved restaurants. | Virginia Restaurant Meals Program and restaurant locator |
USDA participant list and linked state resources checked July 25, 2026.
Related SNAP Food Rules
Sources
Sources reviewed: July 25, 2026.