For your first grocery trips with EBT, the rules might feel straightforward enough: bread, milk, and pantry staples are no problem.
But once you wander past the deli counter or spot neatly packaged sushi rolls in the refrigerated case, then does this count? Can you buy sushi with EBT?
1. Can You Buy Sushi with EBT?
You can purchase sushi with SNAP benefits/EBT card, but only in certain situations. SNAP benefits can only be used to buy food meant for home preparation and consumption.
- In general, you can buy cold, pre-packaged sushi from a grocery store or supermarket (Walmart, Safeway, Kroger, etc.) with EBT.
- If the sushi is sold hot and ready to eat at a restaurant or inside a grocery store with a sit-down area, you usually cannot pay with EBT.
The only exception is if your state participates in the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP), which allows certain SNAP recipients to buy hot, ready-to-eat meals with EBT. However, this program is limited to a few states and specific restaurants, and sushi shops are rarely included.
2. Can You Buy Prepared Foods with EBT?
You’ll find that EBT/SNAP benefits cover most food meant for home consumption. There’s a surprising variety you can buy.
2.1. Can You Buy Grocery Store Sushi with EBT?
As previously discussed, you can use your EBT card to buy pre-packaged, cold grocery store sushi. Sushi from the refrigerated section of supermarkets is considered a regular grocery item under SNAP rules.
Note, if the store has a sushi bar or hot food counter where items are served fresh and ready to eat, you generally can’t use EBT.
The main rule for what you can buy with EBT is that the food can not be hot and ready for immediate consumption at the point of sale.
2.2. Where Can You Buy Sushi with EBT?
You can typically buy sushi with EBT mainly at grocery stores and supermarkets that sell it pre-packaged in the refrigerated or deli section.
Common places where you can use an EBT card for sushi:
Big chain supermarkets and grocery chains:
- Walmart
- Target
- Kroger
- Safeway/Albertsons
- Publix
- H-E-B
- Trader Joe’s
- Whole Foods
- Sprouts
Wholesale clubs:
- Costco
- Sam’s Club
Asian grocery stores:
- H-Mart
Also, you can often use your EBT card to purchase eligible groceries, including cold sushi, for pickup or delivery from major retailers through their websites or apps, such as Amazon, Walmart, and Instacart.
In a few cases, if you live in a state that participates in the Restaurant Meals Program, you can use SNAP EBT at certain restaurants. However, very few sushi restaurants are part of this program, so it’s not common.
2.3. Other Prepared Foods You Can Buy with EBT
Besides sushi, you can also buy a variety of cold, pre-packaged prepared foods from grocery stores and pay with EBT, such as:
- Packaged deli items: Cold sandwiches and salads sold in plastic containers from the deli or refrigerated section.
- Desserts and baked goods: Bread, cookies, cakes, ice cream, frozen yogurt, packaged donuts, muffins, and pastries.
- Snack packs: Fruit cups, veggie trays, cheese-and-cracker packs, and similar grab-and-go items.
- Cold rotisserie chicken: A whole rotisserie chicken that has cooled down and is sold in the refrigerated case.
- Frozen meals: frozen pizzas, burritos, and other heat-and-serve meals.
2.4. What Prepared Food Items Cannot Be Purchased with EBT?
Primarily, if the food is hot at the point of sale or clearly meant to be eaten immediately, you cannot use EBT to buy it.
Several items not allowed include:
- Hot deli foods: fried chicken, pizza slices, and hot soup from the store’s hot bar.
- Restaurant meals: Food from fast food places, sit-down restaurants, or takeout counters, unless your state is one of the few that participates in the Restaurant Meals Program, and you meet the specific eligibility requirements.
- Freshly prepared store meals: Any item meant to be eaten right away, such as a made-to-order sub sandwich, hot rotisserie chicken, or fresh sushi from an in-store chef.
- Café drinks: Hot coffee, lattes, or smoothies made at the in-store café or coffee counter. Any food, even if it’s cold, that is intended to be consumed in an in-store café or seated area is generally ineligible.
- Vitamins, medicines, and supplements: If a product has a “Supplement Facts” label (as opposed to a “Nutrition Facts” label), it is considered a supplement and cannot be purchased, even if it’s a shake or bar.
3. Can You Buy Restaurant Sushi with EBT in Your State?
In most cases, you cannot buy sushi from restaurants with EBT, unless your state participates in the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP).
A limited number of states participate in the RMP, which allows specific eligible SNAP recipients (usually the elderly, disabled, or homeless) to use their EBT card to purchase hot prepared meals from participating restaurants.
However, only a few states adopt the program, and even in those states, it may be hard to find participating sushi restaurants. Fast food chains like KFC, McDonald’s, and Burger King are much more commonly included.
To be sure, check your state’s SNAP website to see if it participates in the Restaurant Meals Program, then look for a list of approved restaurants. If your state doesn’t participate, your best option is to stick with grocery-store sushi that’s always EBT-eligible.
4. Don’t Miss Out: Free Phones Available for Low-Income Residents
Alongside SNAP and Medicaid, the federal Lifeline program has truly become a lifeline in its own right.
Millions of eligible low-income households can receive reduced rates on internet or phone service and get a free phone through Lifeline. And SNAP recipients are always automatically eligible for these Lifeline benefits.
>>> Learn more about everything Lifeline offers
Start by visiting the AirTalk Wireless website and entering your ZIP code; you’ll see which Lifeline plans are available in your area.
From there, choose a plan and select a free device from their lineup. Submit your application, and if approved, your phone is shipped straight to your door.
Conclusion
Don’t worry too much if you can’t tell exactly what can or can’t be purchased with EBT, because when you swipe your card at the checkout, the system automatically excludes any items that aren’t eligible.
If your cart has both eligible and non-eligible items, the register will deduct the EBT amount for the eligible ones, and you can pay for the rest with cash, credit, or debit.
Besides, when shopping online at Walmart or Amazon, eligible items are usually marked with an “EBT-eligible” label. This way, you can see right away what can be purchased with your benefits.