Can I use EBT at McDonald's?

Generally, you cannot use SNAP EBT to buy hot prepared food at McDonald's, but there is an exception called the Restaurant Meals Program. Under federal SNAP rules, benefits are intended for groceries to prepare at home and cannot be used for hot, ready-to-eat meals at restaurants. However, states can opt into the Restaurant Meals Program, which allows certain SNAP recipients who are elderly, disabled, or experiencing homelessness to use their EBT benefits at participating restaurants, including some McDonald's locations, because they may not have a place to store or cook food. As of 2026, states that participate in the Restaurant Meals Program include California, Arizona, Michigan, Illinois, Maryland, and a few others, and only select counties and restaurants within those states participate. If you live in a participating state and qualify for the program, your EBT card will work at participating McDonald's locations that have signage indicating they accept Restaurant Meals Program benefits. For most SNAP recipients who do not meet those special criteria, EBT cannot be used at McDonald's.