The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is our top overall pick for best dining card. This card offers a generous rewards rate at restaurants and eligible delivery services and takeout.
We all have our favorite spots to dine in or take out food — but did you know that when you leave the restaurant, you could be leaving valuable rewards on the table? Choosing the right dining credit card can help you turn meal purchases into cash back, points and miles that can save you money in the long run. Many of these popular cards even include additional benefits to maximize your savings.
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How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Earn 3x points on dining
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is great for foodies, as it lets you enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
In addition, the card’s complimentary DashPash subscription gives you $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate it by Dec. 31, 2024.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Earn 4X points at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
The American Express® Gold Card offers one of the highest rewards rates available at restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. It comes with a monthly dining credit when you use your card on select dining purchases (enrollment required) and also offers flexible rewards redemption options, including the ability to transfer points to other loyalty programs.
You’ll get up to $10 per month in statement credits (for a maximum of $120 per year) when you dine at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations (enrollment is required). Plus, you’ll get up to $10 each month (for a maximum of $120 per year) in Uber Cash when you add this card to your Uber account and use it to pay for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the United States.
These statement credits are worth a combined total of $240, almost fully covering the card’s $325 annual fee.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is a standout choice for earning cash back on dining for no annual fee because of its generous rate on dining, as well as a variety of other rotating categories.
You’ll earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter. Plus, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases. Its 5% rewards rate, plus a sign-up bonus and its bonus on dining purchases, make it one of the most rewarding cash back cards around.
A few examples of past 5% categories include:
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Earn 3X points on a wide variety of categories, including restaurants
You’ll rack up valuable Citi ThankYou® points quickly with the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card, thanks to its elevated earnings on a broad collection of everyday spending categories — including dining. It lets you earn 10x on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked through CitiTravel.com. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Restaurants. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Supermarkets. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Gas and EV Charging Stations. Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on All Other Purchases $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking. Travel insurance protection: Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption (Common Carrier), Trip Delay, Lost or Damaged Luggage, MasterRental Coverage (Car Rental)..
There’s also a valuable sign-up bonus: For a limited time, earn 75,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.. And if you like to travel, you can use your ThankYou points to book travel with one of Citi’s 15+ travel partners — and be sure to take advantage of the $100 annual hotel credit, which offsets the $95 annual fee.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Earn 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores
In addition to cash back on dining and grocery purchases, the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card offers generous rewards on a wide range of entertainment purchases. This category includes movie theaters, sports events, amusement parks, tourist attractions, zoos, pool halls, bowling alleys and more.
You’ll also earn rewards on select popular streaming services, including Hulu, Netflix and Disney+, and additional rewards on Capital One Entertainment purchases. Plus, through Nov. 14, 2024, you can also earn 10% cash back on Uber and Uber Eats purchases, which is an incredible value.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Get 5% on your top category of spending each month (including restaurants)
If you’re looking for a card that you can dedicate to getting the most cash back possible on dining purchases, the Citi Custom Cash® Card is the card for you. Along with a $0 annual fee and easy-to-earn sign-up bonus, you’ll earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2026. The 5% bonus rate includes restaurants — this means that if you max out the $500 limit each month, you could get $25 back each month ($300 per year) on dining.
Unfortunately, the 5% rate only covers one category each month, and you’ll only earn 1% cash back on most other purchases. So if you want a card you can use for other major expenses, like gas and grocery shopping, you may want to explore other options.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Get 4X points on two select categories where your business spent the most each month (including restaurants)
The American Express® Business Gold Card offers exceptional rewards in popular business-related spending categories: U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas, U.S. advertising, U.S. wireless telephone services, U.S. electronics, software and cloud systems and transit (e.g. buses, trains, taxis and rideshares). You’ll earn valuable points at a fast rate that you can use to fund travel and transfer to more than 15 hotel and airline loyalty programs.
It charges a $375 annual fee. However, the card also offers up to $395 worth of credits toward a monthly Walmart+ membership and purchases at select merchants that can help cover the annual fee (enrollment required).
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Earn 2% cash back on gas stations, restaurants and local transit
If you frequently shop at Amazon or Whole Foods, the rewards offered with Prime Visa are hard to beat.— and it also happens to offer a decent rate on rate on restaurant purchases. You’ll earn unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership, unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare), and unlimited 1% on all other purchases
Plus, the card comes with a $0 annual fee and an Amazon Gift Card available instantly upon approval.
To compare the best dining credit cards, you should take a look at the rewards you can earn at restaurants, takeout and delivery and rewards you can earn in other categories. You should also see if the card has any other credits or benefits and how they compares to the card’s annual fee. A card with no annual fee is often best — however, many cards with annual fees have other perks that can offset that cost. Finally, you should take a look at the APR and recommended credit.
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Welcome Offer | Rewards Rate | Recommended Credit Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card*
|
Winner
|
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more. | Excellent | |
|
American Express® Gold Card*
|
Runner up best dining card
|
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants (on up to $50,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X), 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. Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point on all other eligible purchases. Terms Apply | Good / Excellent | |
|
Chase Freedom Flex℠*
|
No annual fee
|
Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter. Plus, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases. | Good / Excellent | |
|
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card*
|
Groceries
|
For a limited time, earn 75,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com. | 10x on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked through CitiTravel.com. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Restaurants. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Supermarkets. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Gas and EV Charging Stations. Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on All Other Purchases $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking. Travel insurance protection: Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption (Common Carrier), Trip Delay, Lost or Damaged Luggage, MasterRental Coverage (Car Rental). | Good / Excellent | |
|
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card*
|
Entertainment
|
Earn $200 Cash Back after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening | 3% Cash Back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®); 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply); 8% Cash Back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; 1% Cash Back on all other purchases | Good / Excellent | |
|
Citi Custom Cash® Card*
|
High rewards in top spending categories
|
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back. | Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2026. | Good / Excellent | |
|
American Express® Business Gold Card*
|
Business
|
Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.* | Get 4X Membership Rewards® points on the 2 eligible categories where your business spent the most each month on the first $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card. Earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. This can be an annual savings of up to $240. Enrollment required. Terms apply. | Good / Excellent | |
|
Prime Visa*
|
Online shopping
|
Get a $200 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members | Earn unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership, unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare), and unlimited 1% on all other purchases | Good / Excellent |
Dining rewards cards offer cash back, points or miles for restaurant purchases and can be big money savers if you love dining out. The purchases that are eligible to earn dining rewards can vary depending on the credit card; however, they typically include those made at sit-down restaurants, fast food restaurants, bars and cafes, and sometimes even takeout and delivery. Some of the top dining credit cards offer up to 4 points per dollar on dining purchases as well as annual dining credits.
But while there are dining credit cards available with no annual fees, the cards with the highest rewards rates and most robust benefits often charge a fee.
According to a 2022 statistic from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American spends about $3,600 on dining out each year for an estimated $300 per month. With costs continuing to rise and dining being a good chunk of yearly budget for most, getting rewarded for your spending is important.
For example, if you spend $3,600 on restaurant purchases in a year with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you can earn 10,800 points from those purchases alone. If you redeem those points through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, they’ll be worth $135. In addition, if you enroll and take advantage of the card’s credits and complimentary subscriptions for Dashpass and Instacart, you can get more than $200 in value from the card — which more than covers the card’s $95 annual fee.
Dining rewards programs are another way to earn miles, points and cash back on top of what you earn with credit card rewards. Typically, all you have to do is create an account and add eligible credit cards to automatically start earning rewards when you use your card at eligible restaurants. Many major airlines and hotels offer their own dining rewards programs. These are also usually free to join, making it a no-brainer for racking up extra rewards. Here are a few examples of these rewards programs:
| Dining program | Earning rate |
|---|---|
| Delta SkyMiles Dining | Up to 5 miles per dollar |
| American Airlines AAdvantage Dining | Up to 5 miles per dollar |
| Alaska Mileage Plan Dining | Up to 5 miles per dollar |
| United MileagePlus Dining | Up to 5 miles per dollar |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards Dining | Up to 3 miles per dollar |
| Free Spirit Dining | Up to 5 miles per dollar |
| TrueBlue Dining | Up to 3 miles per dollar |
| Dining program | Earning rate |
|---|---|
| IHG One Rewards Dine & Earn | Up to 8 points per dollar |
| Eat Around Town by Marriott Bonvoy | Up to 6 points per dollar |
| Hilton Honors Dining | Up to 8 points per dollar |
| Choice Eat & Earn | Up to 5 points per dollar |
When choosing the best dining credit card you should consider a few factors:
Before deciding which card is right for you, you should determine how much you spend on dining each month. That way, you can compare the rewards rates and dining credits offered by each card to see which one offers the best earning potential to suit your spending habits.
While most dining credit cards offer rewards at restaurants, only some offer the same rewards on takeout and food delivery. If you spend more time ordering your food to go, make sure that your credit card rewards you for that.
Some dining credit cards come with a $0 annual fee, while others have a more expensive annual fee to account for. If you’re leaning towards a dining credit card with an annual fee, you should decide if the rewards and benefits that come with the card are enough to offset this fee.
If your spending varies monthly, you may want to choose a card that offers rewards in categories that rotate each quarter or that automatically offers the highest rewards rate in your top spending category each month.
Or, if you spend a significant amount in other popular categories each month, like entertainment, you should consider a dining card that also offers an elevated rewards rate on those purchases.
Ultimately, the best dining credit card for you comes down to how you plan to use the card. If dining is one of your major spending categories and you want to maximize what you earn when you eat out and order in, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a great fit, as is the American Express® Gold Card. But if you also want to earn a competitive rate on entertainment purchases, consider the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card.
For those who prefer a no annual fee credit card, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ offers rewards with a $0 annual fee.
Dining purchases often refer to purchases made at restaurants, fast food establishments, bakeries and bars, although many cards also include takeout and delivery in this category.
Rewards are earned when you make eligible dining purchases using your credit card. Additional rewards can often be earned when you hit the spending threshold for the card’s sign-up bonus or welcome offer.
This depends on the card. Many credit cards have points that never expire as long as your account is open and in good standing, while others expire if you don’t use your card or redeem rewards within a certain time period.
To select the best dining rewards credit cards, we reviewed the cards available on LendingTree, as well as those offered by top issuers. We looked at a variety of factors, including the amount of rewards each card offers on dining, restaurant and food delivery purchases. We also considered the sign-up bonuses, rewards redemption options and dining credits.
Annual fees and introductory APRs also contributed to our choices, as well as useful benefits, like extended warranty and purchase protection.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
The information related to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, American Express® Gold Card, Chase Freedom Flex℠, Citi Strata Premier℠ Card, Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, Citi Custom Cash® Card, American Express® Business Gold Card and Prime Visa has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.
