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Whether you’re a foodie who enjoys frequent nights on the town, or you rely on takeout to keep your family fed, a credit card that earns rewards on at restaurants can help you save on dining expenses.
Especially in today’s inflationary environment, in which menu prices are rising alongside staples like grocery items, gas, and more. In fact, the cost of dining out rose by 7.2% between April 2021 and April 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
While a credit card is unlikely to mitigate rising prices completely, earning cash back or points on your purchases can help offset these higher costs.
Our picks for the best credit cards for dining and restaurants offer rewards on dining out, delivery, and takeout — and get access to other bonus categories and cardholder perks along the way. Like any new rewards card, it’s also helpful to search for options that reward your most frequent spending and fit within your budget.
To help you get started, these are the best cards right now for earning rewards on restaurant spending and saving with more dining-related perks:
Best Credit Cards for Dining and Restaurants
Editorial Independence
As with all of our credit card reviews, our analysis is not influenced by any partnerships or advertising relationships.
Good for Maximum Dining Rewards: American Express Gold Card
Learn more At
our partner’s
secure site. See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply.
-
Intro offer:
60,000 points
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Annual fee:
$250
-
Regular APR:
See Pay Over Time APR
-
Recommended credit score:
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
Rewards rate:
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
NextAdvisor’s Take
Pros
- Tiered points system
- Welcome bonus offer
- Annual credits
Cons
- Annual fee
- Value of points dependent on how you redeem
The Bottom Line
The American Express Gold Card offers a great rewards structure that lets you rack up points when you make everyday purchases on groceries and dining out. You’ll get the most value from your American Express Gold if you use your points to save on travel — especially if you transfer your points to airline or hotel partners. The Amex Gold is one of our favorite travel rewards credit cards, and frequent travelers can get a lot of value from it, even in spite of its $250 annual fee.
Additional Card Details
- Up to $120 annual dining credit
- Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides
- Up to $100 credit on qualifying activities when booking through the American Express Hotel Collection
- $250 annual fee
- Amex Off
ers - Car rental insurance
- Global travel assistance hotline
- Baggage insurance
- Extended warranty on covered purchases
- Purchase protection
- Dispute resolution
Good for Welcome Offer: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Apply Now At
Chase’s
secure site.
-
Intro offer:
80,000 points
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Annual fee:
$95
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Regular APR:
16.24% – 23.24% Variable
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Recommended credit score:
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
Rewards rate:
5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. 3x on dining. 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.
NextAdvisor’s Take
Pros
- Generous welcome offer
- Tiered bonus points categories
- 25% points boost when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 1:1 point transfer at airline and hotel partners
- No foreign transaction fee
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- High APR
- Need to spend within bonus categories to maximize rewards
- Other cards have similar bonus categories with higher rewards rates
The Bottom Line
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a tiered, points-earning rewards card geared toward frequent fliers. Its most valuable assets include a solid welcome bonus, premium points redemption options and access to Chase’s Pay Yourself Back program.
Additional Card Details
- 25% redemption boost on points redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards or eligible statement credits via Pay Yourself Back
- Get 10% value of annual purchases back in points every account anniversary
- $50 in annual hotel credits toward hotel stays booked through Chase
- Primary auto rental collision damage waiver
- Travel protections
- Purchase protections
Good for a Night Out: Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Good for a Night In: U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card
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Intro offer:
20,000 points
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Annual fee:
$0
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Regular APR:
15.74% – 24.74% (Variable)
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Recommended credit score:
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
Rewards rate:
4X points on dining, takeout, and restaurant delivery. 2X points on streaming services. 2X points at grocery stores, grocery delivery, gas stations, and EV charging stations. 1X point on all other eligible purchases.
NextAdvisor’s Take
Pros
- Great rewards rate on dining, groceries, streaming services, gas, and more
- No annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Sign-up bonus
- Flexible redemptions for rewards
Cons
- Rewards can be more complicated than some straightforward cash back cards
- Longer 0% APR offers available on other cards
- High APR after intro offer ends
The Bottom Line
The U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card offers exceptional rewards on dining out, groceries, gas and streaming services, along with an introductory APR for purchases and balance transfers — all for no annual fee. Plus, rewards redemptions are flexible and you can redeem instantly. The card offers few added benefits, but you can get a lot of value if your spending is focused across bonus categories.
Additional Card Details
- 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 billing cycles, followed by a variable APR of 15.74% to 24.74%
- $15 annual streaming credit (after 11 months of streaming purchases charged to your credit card)
- Use U.S. Bank ExtendPay to break up large purchases and pay them down with no interest and a set plan fee
- Visa Signature benefits
Good for Dining and Rotating Categories: Chase Freedom Flex
Apply Now At
Chase’s
secure site.
-
Intro offer:
$200
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Annual fee:
$0
-
Regular APR:
15.24% – 23.99% Variable
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Recommended credit score:
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
Rewards rate:
5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter! 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more
3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service. Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
NextAdvisor’s Take
Pros
- Extensive tiered rewards structure
- Rotating bonus rewards categories every quarter
- Valuable welcome bonus offer
- 0% introductory APR for purchases and balance transfers
- No annual fee
Cons
- High ongoing APR after intro period
- Rotating quarterly bonus categories capped after $1,500 in spending
- Keeping track of rewards categories may be more complex than some other cash back cards
The Bottom Line
The Chase Freedom Flex card offers cash back rewards in rotating rewards categories that will let you save where you spend the most. Plus, you’ll earn rewards in ongoing bonus categories year-round.
Additional Card Details
- 0% introductory APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers (15.24% – 23.99% variable APR thereafter) ; intro balance transfer fee of $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater in the first 60 days
- 5% cash back on qualifying Lyft rides through March 2025
- 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate
- Cell phone protection
- Free credit score and monitoring
- Access to Chase Offers savings
Good for Hard-to-Get Reservations: The Platinum Card from American Express
Learn more At
our partner’s
secure site. See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply.
-
Intro offer:
Earn 100,000 points
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Annual fee:
$695
-
Regular APR:
See Pay Over Time APR
-
Recommended credit score:
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
Rewards rate:
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
NextAdvisor’s Take
Pros
- Valuable welcome offer
- Tiered rewards structure
- No foreign transaction fee (See Rates & Fees)
- Travel perks including lounge access and airline fee credits
Cons
- Very high annual fee
- Relatively high APR
- Not great for rewards outside travel categories
The Bottom Line
From high-earning travel rewards categories to cash credits that can offset the cost of your next vacation, the Platinum Card from American Express has a long list of benefits. Just make sure you can take advantage of them to make the high $695 annual fee worth your while.
Additional Card Details
- Up to $200 annual airline fee credit
- Up to $240 in digital entertainment credits (up to $20 per month) on eligible purchases and subscriptions with: Audible, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. Enrollment required
- Up to $155 annual Walmart+ membership credit: Cover th
e cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups are excluded. - Up to $100 fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
- $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card
- $189 annual statement credit for a Clear® membership
- Up to $200 in Uber Cash to use on rides or Uber Eats in the U.S. annually ($15 per month and a bonus $20 in December), plus Uber VIP access
- $300 in annual statement credits (up to $25 per month) on eligible Equinox memberships or a digital subscriptions to Equinox+, an on-demand fitness app
- Up to $100 in annual statement credits toward purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com (up to $50 every 6 months, per calendar year)
- Access to American Express Global Lounge Collection including Centurion Lounges and Delta SkyClubs (when flying same-day Delta Air Lines flights)
- Access to Fine Hotels & Resorts program, plus credits and benefits during your stay, including $100 credit towards eligible onsite activities
- Hilton Honors Gold elite status enrollment
- Marriott Bonvoy Gold elite status enrollment
- Travel and purchase protections
- American Express preferred seating and presale access
Good for Premium Benefits: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Apply Now At
Chase’s
secure site.
-
Intro offer:
50,000 points
-
Annual fee:
$550
-
Regular APR:
17.24% – 24.24% Variable
-
Recommended credit score:
740-850 (Excellent)
Rewards rate:
Earn 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Earn 5x total points on air travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining. Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
NextAdvisor’s Take
Pros
- Valuable welcome bonus
- $300 travel credit and other added benefits
- 50% points value boost when redeemed for travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- No foreign transaction fee
- Metal card
Cons
- $550 annual fee
- High APR
- Not a great choice if you travel infrequently
The Bottom Line
Luxe benefits and valuable points redemptions draw many people to the Chase Sapphire Reserve, despite its steep $550 annual fee. But if you travel often and your spending aligns with high-value rewards categories, the Reserve’s benefits can outweigh even the high cost of ownership.
Additional Card Details
- 50% redemption boost on points redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards or eligible statement credits via Pay Yourself Back
- $300 annual travel credit
- Up to $100 credit every four years toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee
- Complimentary airport lounge access through Priority Pass Select membership
- 10x points on Lyft rides through March 2025
- Complimentary DashPass from DoorDash subscription through 12/31/24
- Travel protections
- Purchase protections
What Qualifies as Dining?
For the most part, the dining category for popular rewards credit cards is pretty broad. However, issuers typically rely on the merchant category code (MCC) — a four-digit code that determines the type of purchase and subsequent rewards rate — used by the retailer. As a result, eligible purchases can vary slightly based on your card issuer and where you’re dining out.
For example, the Chase defines eligible restaurant and dining rewards as purchases with merchants whose “primary business is sit-down or eat-in dining, including fast food restaurants and fine dining establishments.” But it also comes down to MCCs — Chase states that merchants who sell food and drinks located within facilities like sports stadiums, hotels and casinos, theme parks, grocery and department stores will not be included in this category, for example, “unless the merchant has set up such purchases to be classified in a restaurant category.”
On the other hand, Capital One defines its dining category simply as “purchases at restaurants, cafes, bars, lounges, fast-food chains and bakeries.”
American Express’ information about what counts toward earning bonus rewards at U.S. restaurants is somewhat vague, but the issuer states “you will earn additional rewards in the U.S. restaurant category when you purchase at restaurants located in the U.S.” That said, Amex does list quite a few exclusions that won’t earn bonus rewards. For example, bars, nightclubs, convenience stores, supermarkets, grocery stores, cafeterias, caterers, theatre clubs, breweries, bakeries and meeting venues do not count.
Pro Tip
Takeout purchases will generally always earn bonus points regardless of your card issuer provided you pay for your food within an eligible establishment upon pickup. After all, your credit card issuer has no way of knowing whether you sat down for your meal or brought it home with you.
Does Ordering Delivery Still Get You Dining Points on Your Card?
Generally speaking, you’ll earn bonus rewards on dining purchases if your food is delivered to your home. If you order pizza from Dominos, for example, you’ll earn bonus rewards on dining just as you would if you sat down to order pizza for a sit-down meal.
But this can also depend on how the merchant codes the purchase. If you order delivery and the purchases is recorded as a restaurant purchase, then it should count toward your dining rewards.
In addition, many rewards credit cards count food delivery services such as DoorDash and GrubHub as dining for the purpose of earning rewards. That’s because these food delivery services are set up with the same merchant category code (MCC) as restaurants are.
Quite a few of the best credit cards for dining also offer specific food delivery benefits and statement credit offers. For example, Chase partners with DoorDash to provide a free, limited time DashPass membership to select cardholders.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Chase Sapphire Reserve still come with a complimentary DashPass membership, which includes $0 delivery fees, reduced service fees for over $12 and other perks. Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders also qualify for $5 per month in DoorDash credit they can use.
Separately, the American Express Gold Card offers $120 in Uber Cash annually, which is accrues within your connected Uber account monthly, in increments of $10. This cash can be used for Uber rides, but it can also apply to Uber Eats purchases. And of course, you’ll still earn 4x Membership Rewards points for each dollar spent on dining, including purchases made with Uber Eats.
Are Rewards the Same for All Dining Cards?
The best credit cards for dining all offer bonus points at restaurants, but their rewards rates vary widely. And the rewards you’ll earn in other categories aren’t the same, either. For example, some offer additional bonus points on groceries or entertainment, while others focus their bonus categories on travel-related purchases.
Before you apply for a rewards credit card to maximize your dining, take time to compare all the benefits and features of the the cards you’re considering. Other rewards categories, as well as added benefits and fees that may apply can all affect the value you’ll get from the card. Also look at each card’s rewards program so you have a general idea of how you can redeem your points when you’re ready.
How to Maximize Your Points by Dining and Ordering Out
Cards with restaurant rewards are most valuable for those who already spend a significant amount on dining out each month. So the best way to maximize your rewards is to make these purchases with a card that will earn you the most points or cash back on dining. Here are a few more ways to ensure you’re getting the best value on your dining cards:
- Use rewards cards strategically as you spend. Each time you dine out at a restaurant or pay for takeout, make sure you’re using the credit card that will give you the most bonus points on your purchase.
- Connect your rewards credit card food delivery apps. Once you sign up for a credit card that earns bonus rewards on dining, make sure to make it your preferred payment method on any food delivery apps you use. Examples include your DoorDash account, your Uber account, or any restaurant apps you order from regularly.
- Pay for dining purchases whenever you can. You can earn more rewards per meal if you offer to use your card as payment when you dine out with family or friends. Just remember to have the other diners repay you using cash or a money transfer app like Venmo or Zelle.
Choosing the Right Dining and Restaurant Card
Like any new rewards card, your spending habits and budget can help you decide on the right card for dining and restaurants.
Before you choose a credit card for dining out, take time to review your budget and the expenses you already charge to a credit card. If you spend a lot on dining and will get more value than the cost from plentiful benefits and high rewards rates, it might make sense to open a card with an annual fee. Similarly, if your spending isn’t only focused on dining, but you also spend a lot in categories like groceries or travel, you might want to prioritize cards that offer more points on these types of purchases, too.
After comparing long-term value via rewards rates and benefits, you may also want to consider each card’s welcome offer or sign-up bonus. These offers can boost your first-year value with hundreds of dollars worth of points or cash back after you meet a spending threshold.
Finally, make sure you’re credit score is in good standing and within the recommended range for the card you want to apply for. Practicing good credit habits like paying your balance in full and on time each month can help you maintain good credit to qualify for the best credit cards available.
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