Restaurants That Accept EBT in New York
Yes — New York is one of nine states where SNAP can buy a hot restaurant meal. It’s open to SNAP households where everyone is 60 or older, disabled, or homeless. Available in 35 of New York’s 62 counties and boroughs.
Run by: New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) · Official list: see approved restaurants
Where It Works in New York
The state's Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance runs a county-by-county lookup for participating restaurants, currently covering 35 counties and boroughs including the five New York City boroughs.
As of August 14, 2026 · Source: New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), New York Restaurant Meals Program
Do You Qualify?
Every person in your SNAP household has to meet one of these:
- Age 60 or older
- Disabled — receiving disability or blindness payments, or government disability retirement benefits for a permanent disability
- Homeless
- The spouse of a SNAP client who qualifies under one of the rules above
You also have to be certified for SNAP in New York itself. There’s no separate application — if you qualify, the state codes your EBT card for the program and it just works at the register.
As of August 14, 2026 · Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service, SNAP Restaurant Meals Program (page updated August 7, 2026)
Which Restaurants Are Approved
We don’t publish a restaurant list for New York. The state's lookup loads results one county at a time and we can't read it automatically, so we won't guess at chain names or a location count. Use OTDA's lookup for your county, and watch for the RMP window decal on the door.
Source: New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) · not re-readable from our network on August 14, 2026
Open New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA)’s official list →
Using Your Card at the Restaurant
Swipe your EBT card, pick EBT, enter your PIN. If your card isn’t coded for the program the machine declines it — the restaurant doesn’t decide and can’t check your case. Staff see an EBT card, nothing more.
Your regular SNAP balance pays for the meal, so a $12 lunch is $12 off your monthly benefit. Nothing about the program adds money to your card.
What Else Your EBT Card Buys in New York
The Restaurant Meals Program is a narrow add-on. Your everyday grocery shopping is unchanged:
- Stores that accept EBT in New York
- Find EBT stores near you
- Gas stations that accept EBT
- What you can buy with EBT
Questions About New York’s Program
New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) handles the Restaurant Meals Program here. Email [email protected]. Phone 518-949-3700. We’re not a government agency and can’t look up your case — the state can.
Other States With a Restaurant Meals Program
Sources: USDA Food and Nutrition Service, SNAP Restaurant Meals Program (state list and eligibility, page updated August 7, 2026), and New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), New York Restaurant Meals Program. Approved restaurant data from the state’s own published list. Last reviewed: August 14, 2026.