If you receive SNAP (formerly Food Stamps) benefits and like fish, crab, oysters, and other seafood, you might be wondering, “What seafood restaurants near me accept EBTs?”
EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) cards are used to issue benefits to individuals participating in the Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Fish is one of the basic items you can buy with EBT. You can use your EBT card to buy seafood at popular fish markets across the US, but of course also at local grocery stores.
It’s good to know if there are any fish markets in your area that accept EBT cards so you can buy freshly caught fish and enjoy it at home!
That’s what today’s post is about.
Below I will introduce the top fish markets that accept EBT payments. And just in case you don’t live near one of these markets, I’ve also compiled a list of grocery stores that accept EBT cards and where you can buy fish, both in-store and online.
Table of Contents
What is an EBT card?
An EBT card is a debit card that SNAP recipients can use to pay for eligible purchases at approved retailers. It has a security PIN and a magnetic stripe and works in a similar way to a normal debit card.
The difference is that you can buy anything you want with your regular debit card, provided you have the funds to cover the cost. This means there are some items that you cannot purchase with EBT. Below I will go over the items that you can buy.
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Can I use EBT at seafood restaurants near me?
Short answer: Yes, you can buy fresh, frozen, and packaged fish products with your EBT card. You can purchase items such as shrimp, lobster, fish, crab, clams, and oysters with your grocery vouchers. Many fish markets accept EBT cards, as do grocery stores.
As EBT cards cannot be used to purchase hot or prepared food, you cannot redeem your grocery vouchers at seafood restaurants. However, some states have a restaurant meal program that allows elderly, homeless, and disabled SNAP recipients to use their SNAP EBT cards to purchase groceries at approved restaurants.
Unfortunately, you won’t find many seafood restaurants participating in this program. Be sure to read my list of fast food restaurants that accept EBT if you want to use your grocery vouchers to purchase hot, prepared meals through the Restaurant Meals program.
What can you buy with an EBT card?
As I said before, not all items are suitable for SNAP. You can only purchase eligible products with your EBT card. This includes fresh fish, freshly caught fish, and many other fish products.
You can buy this with your EBT card
- Bread and grain products such as flatbread, rye bread, tortillas, pasta, bagels, and rice.
- sweets
- crisps
- Cold sandwiches
- Edible oils such as olive oil and vegetable oil
- Dairy products such as cheese, milk, and almond milk
- Sweets, such as ice cream, cookies, or brownies
- Fruits and vegetables (fresh, frozen, or canned)
- Soft drinks like Sprite and Pepsi and energy drinks like Red Bull.
- Other foods such as snacks
- Pork products such as pork chops, sausages, bacon, and sirloin.
- Poultry products such as chicken and eggs
- Red meats, such as steaks, chops, and ground beef
- salads
- Seafood such as fish, crab, crustaceans, and lobster
- Seeds and plants that produce food for the family
- Snacks
What can’t you buy with an EBT card?
The grocery vouchers are intended to pay for basic groceries and non-alcoholic beverages.
Here’s what you can’t buy with your EBT card:
- Beer, wine, spirits, cigarettes, or tobacco products
- Food that is hot when sold.
- Live animals (excluding mollusks, fish taken from the water, and animals slaughtered prior to collection from the store).
Non-food items such as:
- cleaning supplies
- paper products
- pet food
- Hygiene products
- cosmetics
- Vitamins, medicines, and dietary supplements
Fish markets accepting EBT
As you may already know, many grocery stores sell seafood, so this can be a good place to shop for fish, crab, and other items. But fish markets are also a good option, and in many of them, you can even shop with your EBT card.
Seafood restaurants are useful when you want to buy freshly caught fish, crab, or lobster in your area with SNAP benefits.
Below is a list of the 4 best seafood restaurants that accept EBT.
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Boston Public Market
- Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- What’s On: Find seasonal Massachusetts and New England foods locally sourced at this covered market, open year-round. These include seafood and fresh produce, meat and poultry, eggs, dairy, baked goods, specialty foods, arts and crafts, and prep options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- Website
- Location: Boston, Massachusetts
John Yi Fish Market
Location: Inside the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Opening times: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m
Offering: Here you will find a selection of farmed and wild-caught fish and shellfish, sushi-quality tuna and salmon, and live lobster.
Portland Fish Market
Location: Portland, Oregon
Opening times: 10 am to 7 am
What’s on offer: There’s fish like albacore tuna, cod, and halibut, shellfish like squid legs, mussels, clams, shrimp, and oysters, and house-smoked seafood like salmon, scallops, and trout.
Saltwater Fish Market and Fry Shack
Location: Raleigh, NC
Opening times: Closed Monday, Tuesday to Friday 9 am to 7 pm, Saturday 8:30 am to 6 pm and Sunday 9 am to 4 pm.
Offer: Here you will find a large selection of fresh and frozen fish and shellfish, e.g. Such as blue crab, catfish, clams, cod, rainbow trout, salmon, shrimp, snapper, scallops, and live lobster.
Website
Seafood restaurants that do NOT accept EBT
Unfortunately, most fish markets and restaurants in the US do not accept EBT.
Here is a list of fish shops that DO NOT accept EBT:
- 4th Street Shrimp Shop
- Andria’s Fish Market & Restaurant
- Arthur Treacher’s Fish and Chips
- Atlantic Seafood Market
- Bahamian breeze
- Herringbone Grill
- Bubba Gump Shrimp Company
- Captain D’s Seafood
- Carolina Meat & Fish Co.
- Conrad’s Crab & Seafood Market
- Crab Cake Coffee
- Crab Cake Coffee
- Crab ATL
- Crabby Bil’s
- Jersey City Fish Stand
- Joe’s crab shop
- King’s Fish House
- Legal Seafood
- Long John Silver’s
- Mac’s Fish Markets
- McCormick and Schmick
- McGrath’s Fish House
- Milwaukee/St. Paul Company Fish Market
- Monahan Fish Market
- Pappadeaux fish cuisine
- Pappa’s Seafood Co.
- Red Lobster
- Grilled Seafood with Redfish
- San Pedro Fish Market
- Santa Monica Fish Market and Cafe
- Conchiglie Restaurant
- Paolo Pesce company
- The crazy crab
- The District Fishmonger
- Lobster Place Fish Market
- Truluck’s Seafood Steak and Crab House
Buy seafood with EBT at these grocery stores
Unfortunately, there aren’t many fish markets that accept EBT as payment. That’s why you should avoid grocery stores when buying seafood.
If you don’t live near any of the markets on our list, you can also buy fish and shellfish like salmon, shrimp, and cod at many grocery stores. And the best part is that there are many grocery stores that accept EBT!
You can buy seafood from these grocery stores that accept EBT:
- Albertson’s
- ALDI
- BJ’s Wholesale Club
- Costco
- Lion food
- Giant Eagles
- Hy Vee
- Kroeger
- Publix
- safe way
- Sam’s Club
- Goal
- Trader Joe
- Wegman
- Whole Foods
- WinCo groceries
Order fish online from grocery stores that accept EBTs
Previously, grocery vouchers could only be used for in-store purchases. So if you eat groceries such as B. Seafood, and wanted to buy online, you could not use your EBT card to pay for your goods. Fortunately, that is no longer the case.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has now launched a pilot program, called the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot, that will allow SNAP beneficiaries to use their EBT card to purchase groceries online from participating retailers in select states.
So, if you don’t want to go to the store and want to conveniently order fish online, then this is a great program.
This program allows you to pay for all or part of your grocery orders online with a valid EBT card at selected stores in participating countries.
Be sure to check out my list of grocery stores that accept EBT online (delivery or pickup!). This post provides a list of the states currently participating in the SNAP online shopping pilot and an overview of which grocery stores in each state accept EBT online.
Buying Seafood with EBT: Summary
SNAP grants help with the cost of food and beverages for people like the homeless, people with disabilities, the elderly, and those on low incomes. EBT cards give you easy access to your account credits and you can use your card like a regular debit card to shop at approved retailers.
There are some grocery stores that accept EBT cards. These include Boston Public Market, John Yi Fish Market, Portland Fish Market, Saltwater Fish Market, and Fry Shack.
If you don’t live near any of the fish markets on our list, try your local grocery store instead. Many well-known grocery stores that sell seafood, such as Whole Foods, Giant Eagle, and Costco, accept EBT. Some even let you order seafood online using your EBT card.
I hope this post has helped you if you’ve ever wondered, “Are there any seafood shops near me that accept EBT?”
Can you buy seafood with EBT in Texas?
According to the US Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service, SNAP benefits can be used to purchase: Fruits and vegetables. meat, poultry, and fish. Seafood (lobster and shellfish).
Can you use EBT at the Wharf DC?
The Wharf’s fishmongers have accepted SNAP benefits for decades, giving low-income families access to fresh fish at great prices.
Can you buy hot food with EBT?
In general, you cannot use SNAP for hot meals that are being prepared in a restaurant for immediate consumption. However, some states offer the SNAP Restaurants Meal program for elderly, disabled, and/or homeless recipients. If your state is one of these, you can even get meals at “subsidized prices.”
Does Popeyes take EBT in Texas?
According to the website FoodStampsNow, Popeyes is one of the restaurant chains that will accept SNAP EBT cards for purchases. SNAP is a federal program for families who need financial assistance to buy groceries.
Can you buy subway with EBT in Texas?
If you are eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, you may use your Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card at participating Subway restaurants
Can you use EBT at Subway Washington?
The California EBT card is also known as the Golden State Advantage Card. The state is part of the RMP and Subway is one of the restaurants that accept EBT.
Can I get cash off my EBT card at an ATM in Washington state?
If you are eligible for cash benefits, you can use your Washington Quest EBT card to receive cash or pay for purchases at participating stores and withdraw your benefits from ATMs.
