If you currently live in Alameda County, California, and receive CalFresh benefits we have great news! Your CalFresh EBT Card or Golden State Advantage card can be used at select restaurants and fast food places if you meet the eligibility criteria. In this post, we will explain in detail how the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) works in Alameda County and how you can qualify to use your EBT at these restaurants. In addition, we will provide you a complete list of food places and restaurants that Accept EBT in Alameda County, California.
First, we are going to explain what the California Restaurant Meals program is about and which counties are participating.
Second, we will explain the requirements for the RMP and how you can use your CalFresh EBT at these restaurants.
Finally, we will provide you a complete list of restaurants that Accept EBT in Alameda County, broken down by city for easy search.
You will see the names of participating restaurants with their addresses and phone numbers.
The list includes restaurants in the following Alameda County cities:
- Alameda
- Fremont
- Oakland
- Union City
All you need to do is scroll down and find the city where you live or a nearby city and you will see the list of restaurants that accept EBT there.
California Restaurant Meals Program
The Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) allows CalFresh recipients who are 60 years of age or older, disabled, or homeless to use their CalFresh benefits to purchase lower-cost prepared meals at approved participating restaurants in certain counties.
If you fit one of the groups described above, you can use your CalFresh California EBT card at select restaurants and fast-food chains throughout the state.
- Currently, the restaurant meals program is active in the following 39 counties:
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- Alameda
- Butte
- Contra Costa
- Fresno
- Glenn
- Imperial
- Kern
- Kings
- Los Angeles
- Madera
- Marin
- Mariposa
- Merced
- Nevada
- Orange
- Placer
- Riverside
- Sacramento
- San Benito
- San Bernardino
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Joaquin
- San Luis Obispo
- San Mateo
- Santa Barbara
- Santa Clara
- Santa Cruz
- Shasta
- Siskiyou
- Solano
- Sonoma
- Stanislaus
- Sutter
- Tehama
- Tulare
- Ventura
- Yolo
- Yuba
-
California Restaurant Meals Program Requirements
To use your CalFresh Golden State Advantage EBT Card at restaurants and fast-food chains in Alameda County, you must first meet certain requirements.
To be eligible for the Restaurant Meals Program, you must:
- Currently, be enrolled and receiving CalFresh benefits
- Have an active California EBT Card
- Be homeless, elderly (age 60 or older), or disabled
If you do not meet the requirements listed above, you are not eligible to use your California EBT Card at restaurants and fast-food chains.
How to use your EBT Card at Restaurants in Alameda County
Using your EBT Card to purchase hot meals at restaurants and fast food locations is easy.
Here’s what you do:
- Find a participating restaurant or fast-food chain near you. Eligible locations will display the Restaurant Meals sign (pictured below).
- Purchase hot meals – breakfast, lunch, or dinner at the restaurant by using your California EBT Card at checkout.
- Follow the instructions and enter your 4-digit EBT Card PIN to complete your purchase.
- Get your receipt to see the remaining balance on your EBT Card CalFresh benefits account.
List of Restaurants that Accept EBT in Alameda County
We have listed below the restaurants that accept CalFresh EBT in Alameda County, CA by City.
Scroll down to find your city or a nearby city and see which restaurants in that county accept CalFresh EBT.
Currently, the following restaurants accept EBT Cards in Alameda County, California. See the list below.
Carl’s Jr.
871 Marina Village Pkwy.
Alameda, CA 94501
Jamba Juice
3962 Mowry Ave.
Fremont CA 94538
Carl’s Jr.
3770 Telegraph Ave.
Oakland, CA 94690
El Torero Taqueria
5801 International Blvd.
Oakland CA 94621
Pizza Hut
2617 Decoto Rd.
Union City, CA 94587
CalFresh Eligible Food Items FAQs
We usually get questions from our readers about specific food items so we have provided answers to the most frequently asked items.
Can you buy energy drinks with CalFresh?
Energy drinks that have a nutrition label are eligible foods you can buy with your CalFresh benefits.
However, energy drinks that have a supplement facts label are classified by the FDA as supplements and are therefore not eligible under food stamps rules.
Can I buy deli food with CalFresh EBT?
You are not allowed to use CalFresh to buy food you can eat at the premises or hot food in general.
You are only allowed to buy food you are taking home to prepare.
Therefore, when it comes to Deli foods, you cannot buy hot food from the deli or prepared foods like mac n cheese, chicken or sandwiches, stuff from the salad bar.
However, you can buy deli meats and cheeses and cold uncooked items from the deli with your CalFresh EBT card as long as you are going to take them home to prepare.
Can you buy Pet Food with CalFresh EBT?
No, you cannot use your CalFresh EBT benefits to buy pet food.
This is directly from the USDA Website.
If you attempt to use your CalFresh card to buy pet or dog food, you will be violating the law – which could land you in jail.
CalFresh FAQs
Here are some of the top questions we get about CalFresh.
If I get CalFresh am I taking benefits away from other people?
No. CalFresh is an entitlement program.
Therefore, everyone who qualifies for CalFresh will get benefits.
In the state of California, there are about 4 million people who are eligible but not receiving CalFresh.
For every $5 of CalFresh spent in a community, another $9 of local economic activity is generated.
Therefore, CalFresh dollars help support jobs and businesses in your community.
How Long Can I Receive CalFresh Benefits?
There is no time limit for how long eligible individuals and families can receive CalFresh.
However, in order to maintain benefits, CalFresh recipients are required to fill out semi-annual reports and annual recertifications.
Where are my CalFresh Food Stamps?
CalFresh benefits are electronically issued to your personal Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Card – also called the Golden State Advantage Card.
Benefits are available to you during the first ten days of the month, as long as you have turned in your paperwork on time.
See the California Food Stamps Benefit Deposit Schedule.
Restaurants that Accept EBT in Alameda County Summary
Here’s the bottom line:
The Alameda County Restaurant Meals program applies to those who are homeless, elderly (age 60 or older), or disabled.
If you are one of the groups above and have an active California EBT Card, you can use your CalFresh benefits to buy food at select restaurants.
This includes hot food that can be eaten at the premises.
Currently, 15 counties in California participate in the program, including Alameda County.
Questions?
We hope this post on restaurants that accept EBT in Alameda County was helpful.
If you have further questions about CalFresh or California EBT Card, please let us know in the comments section below.
Be sure to check out our other articles about CalFresh and CalFresh EBT, including: