Does Subway Take EBT? (Locations That Accept EBT)

Short version: Here’s how you can use your EBT at Subway:

1. Subway takes EBT but only in-store. You can’t use EBT in the Subway app or online.
2. The other caveat is that the Subway location must participate in the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP)
3. You may be able to use your EBT at Subway locations that don’t participate in RMP, if you only purchase cold foods.

Let’s look at those last two options in a little more detail.

Using your EBT at Subway Locations that participate in RMP

SNAP benefits are designed for purchasing cold foods that you can prepare at home. Sadly, this leaves people who’re disabled or unable to cook for themselves with few options. That’s why the Restaurant Meals Program was launched.

If you don’t already know, the Restaurant Meals Program is a state-run program that allows elderly, homeless, and disabled SNAP recipients to purchase food at SNAP authorized restaurants using their SNAP EBT cards.

Currently, only six states have RMPs:

• Arizona
• California
• Rhode Island
• Michigan
• Illinois
• Maryland

You’ll find that most of the Subway locations that accept EBT are in:

• California
• Arizona
• Rhode Island

Even in the few states that allow SNAP recipients to eat out at restaurants, not every EBT cardholder will qualify. You will need to meet your state’s requirements to be eligible.

Basically, you can only use your EBT card to buy hot or prepared food items at Subway if you live in a state with the Restaurant Meals Program and qualify for it.

SNAP-eligible cold items you can buy with EBT

You may have difficulty finding a nearby Subway that accepts EBT if you live in a state without the Restaurant Meals Program or if you don’t qualify for the RMP.

If that’s the case, then you may still be able to purchase cold food items that you can prepare at home from the store.

Here are some SNAP-eligible items you can purchase even if you’re not part of the RMP.

• Bread and cereals
• Red meat, such as ground beef, steak, and ribs
• Desserts like ice cream, cookies, or brownies
• Dairy products, such as milk, yogurt, and cheese
• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Cold sandwiches
• Salads
• Soft drinks like Sprite and Pepsi
• Energy drinks like Red Bull
• Pork products, such as chops, bacon, tenderloin, and sausages
• Chips
• Snack crackers
• Poultry

Unfortunately, Subway doesn’t sell many of those items separately. You may be able to get soft drinks and chips and snack foods like that but you’re not going to be able to get a sub unless that Subway is part of the RMP.

What can’t you purchase with SNAP benefits?

You can’t purchase the following with your SNAP benefits:

• Alcohol, like wine, beer, or liquor.
• Tobacco products, like cigarettes.
• Pet foods
• Soaps
• Paper products
• Household supplies
• Vitamins and medicines

What Subway Locations Accept EBT Cards?

Although there are more than 23,000 Subway locations throughout the United States, you can only really use your food stamps at locations in three states.

Here’s where you can use your EBT at Subway:

Arizona Subway Locations that accept EBT

If you live in Arizona, you’ll be glad to know that EBT is widely accepted.

Here’s where you can use your EBT at Subway in Arizona:

• Anthem
• Apache Junction
• Avondale
• Benson
• Buckeye
• Bullhead City
• Camp Verde
• Casa Grande
• Chandler
• Chino Valley
• Coolidge
• Douglas
• El Mirage
• Florence
• Fort Mohave
• Fountain Hills
• Gila Bend
• Gilbert
• Glendale
• Globe
• Kayenta
• Kingman
• Lake Havasu City
• Marana
• Maricopa
• Mayer
• Mesa
• Navajo
• New River
• Nogales
• Overgaard
• Paga
• Parker
• Payson
• Peoria
• Phoenix
• Prescott
• Prescott Valley
• Queen Creek
• Rio Rico
• Safford
• Sahuarita
• San Luis
• San Tan Valley
• Scottsdale
• Sierra Vista
• Johns
• Surprise
• Tempe
• Thatcher
• Tonopah
• Tuba City
• Tucson
• Winslow
• Wittmann
• Yuma

Arizona has an elaborate RMP, and more than 200 locations accept EBT throughout the State.

California Subway Locations that accept EBT

California is another state where you can find 100s of Subway locations that accept EBT. It has an elaborate RMP.

Here’s where you can use food stamps at Subway:

• Alameda
• Los Angeles
• Orange
• Riverside
• Sacramento
• San Diego
• San Francisco
• San Luis Obispo
• Santa Clara
• Santa Cruz

Rhode Island Subway Locations that accept EBT

Here are some Rhode Island Subway locations where you can use your food stamps:

• Central Falls: 310 Broad Street
• Cranston: 962 Cranston Street
• Newport: 104 Broadway Unit 1A
• Pawtucket: 614 Pawtucket Avenue
• Providence:
  • 583 Elmwood Avenue
  • 2 Kennedy Plaza
  • 719 Westminster Street
  • 255 Weybossett Street
• Westerly: 258 Post Road (inside Walmart)
• Woonsocket: 483 Clinton Street

Closing Thoughts

It would be great if all states had an RMP that would allow those in need to purchase hot foods too. Sadly, there are only 3 states that do right now. If you’re lucky enough to live in one of them and qualify for the RMP, then you can use your EBT at the Subway locations that I listed above. If not, then you may be able to purchase a few cold food items, but that’s it.

Hopefully this has answered the question of “Does Subway take EBT?” clearly.