With over two billion dollars in revenue, Taco Bell is the largest American-Mexican fast food chain around the globe. It is located across 32 nations in over 7,700 diverse locations. Taco Bell’s Mexican-inspired cuisine has gained a cult following and is famous for its fried, hard-shelled tacos, which are often served with shredded lettuce, cheese, and meat.
Headquartered in Irvine, Taco Bell operates 860 restaurants throughout California. It serves a variety of appealing, affordable meals on its value menu for people who wish to eat tasty food on a budget. But, many CalFresh recipients are puzzled by the question, “Does Taco Bell accept EBT?” The quick answer is yes, but read on for more details.
Does Taco Bell Take EBT in California?
Yes, few Taco Bell restaurants accept EBT food benefits in states that participate in the SNAP Restaurant Meals Program (RMP), such as California, Arizona, and Michigan. To use your EBT card to buy hot and prepared foods at Taco Bell in California, you must be eligible for the CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program. However, you can only use your EBT card at Taco Bell in a county that participates in the CalFresh RMP and has authorized Taco Bell restaurants.
California and Arizona have the most extensive RMP programs. Hence, most Taco Bell restaurants that accept EBT are located in those states. There may also be a few Taco Bell locations that accept EBT in other states with a limited version of the RMP, like Florida. Still, you may come across some Taco Bell locations that do not take EBT food benefits in states with an RMP. It is due to the fact that each restaurant needs to apply and get approved by the state agency to become an authorized RMP location.
Further explanation: Taco Bell is famous for its Mexican-inspired menu items like tacos, nachos, burritos, and other affordable meal options. As a result, Taco Bell restaurants are excellent places to go for cheap meals. It is especially true for the disadvantaged people that are unable to prepare their food or do not have the means for it. The Restaurant Meals Program is a federal initiative that assists these individuals by allowing them to buy hot and prepared meals at authorized restaurants like Taco Bell.
To qualify for the CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program, you must be a CalFresh recipient with a valid EBT card. Also, fit into one of the categories listed below:
- an elderly, i.e., an adult aged 60 or older,
- a person with a disability,
- the spouse of an individual belonging to either of the above groups, or
- a person who is homeless.
The USDA allows states to extend the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through the RMP. It suggests that each state can choose whether to permit EBT payments in fast food locations like Taco Bell. Many states choose not to participate in the program. As a consequence, Taco Bell meals are ineligible for EBT purchases in all the states that do not have RMPs.
Only a few counties in California participate in the CalFresh RMP. Furthermore, not all Taco Bell restaurants in the participating counties have gained RMP accreditation. A restaurant cannot be RMP-approved unless it meets specific USDA standards. Thus, the California Department of Social Services only grants RMP authorization to qualifying Taco Bell retailers.
In essence, to use an EBT card at an RMP-approved Taco Bell, you and your county must qualify for the CalFresh RMP. In addition, just a few Taco Bell restaurants in qualifying California counties accept EBT cards. . You should call ahead of time to inquire if a nearby Taco Bell accepts CalFresh EBT.
Does Your Local Taco Bell Take EBT in California?
In California, you may find a nearby Taco Bell restaurant that accepts EBT payments depending on whether your county participates in the CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program. Even if your local county does not have an RMP, you can still go to a Taco Bell restaurant that accepts EBT food benefits to buy CalFresh-eligible food items from the menu, for instance, cold or frozen foods, baked goods, packed snacks, bottled water, and cold drinks. Although, most fast food restaurants that accept food benefits are in a few counties that partake in the RMP.
Three RMP participating counties in California have authorized Taco Bell locations. To purchase hot or prepared food at Taco Bell, you must be eligible for the CalFresh RMP. All qualifying CalFresh recipients may use their CalFresh food benefits at any RMP participating Taco Bell in the state, even if it is out of their local county.
The listed counties in California have RMP-approved Taco Bell restaurants:
To locate a Taco Bell that accepts EBT in your county, visit the California EBT Cardholder Portal. Next, select your county and search for ‘Taco Bell’ in the Retailer tab. Else, you can use the EBT Map Locator to find a Taco Bell location that accepts EBT in your area.
How To Use an EBT Card at Taco Bell?
You can use your EBT Food benefits to purchase hot meals at a Taco Bell only if you qualify for the CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program. However, not all Taco Bell restaurants in California have authorized RMP locations. Yet, if you live in one of the three counties mentioned above, you can essentially buy any meal sold at an RMP-approved Taco Bell near you.
To use your EBT card at Taco Bell, you must first locate a Taco Bell that accepts CalFresh food benefits. Then, check for a window or door with an RMP sign, or ask an employee if that particular location accepts EBT.
Once you are ready to order, place your order at the register. Inform your cashier that you will be paying with an EBT card. Next, the cashier will swipe your card and ask you to enter the EBT PIN. Finally, to complete the purchase, simply enter your secret four-digit PIN.
You will not face any issues unless your EBT card has an insufficient balance. The best way to avoid those situations is to keep the receipt from your last purchase as it displays the remaining balance in your EBT account. Instead, you can call the EBT Customer Service number at 1-877-328-9677 (TTY: 1-800-735-2929). It is a 24/7, free service available in ten languages, including English, Spanish, Chinese, and Farsi.
Does Taco Bell Take EBT Online for Delivery and Pick-up Orders?
No, Taco Bell does not accept online EBT payments to order food for delivery or pick-up.
Taco Bell offers online food orders through its website, mobile app, and online food delivery services, notably UberEats, Grubhub, and DoorDash. However, these delivery services do not participate in the CalFresh RMP; hence, you cannot use an EBT card to pay for delivery or pick-up orders at Taco Bell.
Only a fraction of qualifying CalFresh recipients is allowed to use their CalFresh food benefits to buy hot and prepared food in most states participating in the RMP, including California. Therefore, the online delivery services do not accept EBT payments as they primarily deliver hot foods. Alternatively, you can use additional payment options accepted for Taco Bell delivery, such as debit or credit cards.
What Other Fast Food Restaurants Accept EBT in California?
The CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program is available in 16 counties across California. Yet, only three of the 16 counties have authorized RMP Taco Bell restaurants. If you live in a county without an authorized RMP Taco Bell or the nearest one is too far away, you can still satisfy your fast food cravings at other authorized RMP fast food restaurants.
Besides Taco Bell, the following fast food restaurants in California take EBT as payment:
- Del Taco
- El Pollo Loco
- KFC
- Subway
- Burger King
- Jack in the Box
- Carl Jr.
- Pizza Hut
- McDonald’s
- Domino’s Pizza
- Panda Express
It is important to note that not all of the mentioned fast food restaurants take EBT as payment in all their locations. Their RMP participation will differ based on their area and county. Since each restaurant is usually separately run, each will require USDA clearance to participate in the CalFresh RMP.
The easiest way to know if a restaurant accepts EBT is to look for the Restaurant Meals Program sign. All RMP-participating restaurants display the RMP sign on their doors or windows. You can also find a complete list of authorized RMP restaurants in California here.
Key Takeaways
If you qualify for the CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program, you can buy a hot taco meal at a participating Taco Bell restaurant in California. The CalFresh RMP is available in 16 California counties. Although, only three of these counties have Taco Bell locations that accept EBT food benefits. A Taco Bell restaurant must receive USDA approval to become an authorized RMP location.
EBT is not accepted as a payment method for online delivery or pick-up orders at Taco Bell. You can order Taco Bell delivery via its website/mobile app or through delivery services like DoorDash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats. You can use a debit or credit card to pay for your Taco Bell delivery.
Even if you do not qualify for the CalFresh Restaurant Meal Program, you may be able to use your EBT card to purchase cold food items at an authorized Taco Bell restaurant, but only at the manager’s discretion.
