Best Credit Cards for Restaurants and Dining July 2024

Why get a credit card for dining?

The best credit cards for dining give you points or cash back on all restaurant purchases.

If you love to dine out, you may benefit from adding one of these rewards cards to your wallet. However, cards that give you bonus rewards at restaurants may not have high rewards rates for other categories.

To determine if a credit card for restaurants and dining is right for you, answer the following questions:

• How much do you spend at restaurants each month?
• Do you spend a consistent amount of money each month, or do you only go to restaurants on special occasions?
• Where do you spend the most on dining? Do you go to restaurants regularly, or do you spend more money on delivery?

Pros and cons of dining credit cards

What counts as dining for credit card rewards?

Before applying for a restaurant and dining credit card, you should know exactly what the dining category includes. This varies based on the issuer.

What counts as dining for Chase credit cards?

Based on the Chase website:

“This category’s merchants’ primary business is sit-down or eat-in dining, including fast food restaurants and fine dining establishments. Merchants that sell food and drinks located within facilities such as sports stadiums, hotels and casinos, theme parks, grocery and department stores will not be included in this category unless the merchant has set up such purchases to be classified in a restaurant category. Bakeries, caterers, meal kit delivery services, and gift card merchants are not included in the category. Delivery and takeout services will be included if they classify as a restaurant merchant.”

What counts as dining for American Express credit cards?

While Amex guidelines may vary slightly based on each card, the guidelines set for the American Express Gold Card are defined as such:

“Card Members may not earn additional points for purchases at a restaurant located within another establishment (e.g. a restaurant inside a hotel, casino, or event venue) or for events held within a restaurant, or for purchases made through third-party food delivery services outside of the U.S…. Card Members also will NOT earn additional points for purchases at bars, nightclubs, cafeterias, supermarkets, grocery stores, caterers, theatre clubs, breweries, bakeries, meeting venues, and convenience stores.”

What counts as dining for Capital One credit cards?

Capital One defines qualifying dining purchases as:

“Purchases at restaurants, cafes, bars, lounges, fast-food chains and bakeries.”

How much can you earn at restaurants with a dining rewards credit card?

The amount you earn using a dining rewards credit card will depend on how much you spend in this category each year. According to the Consumer Expenditures Report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national average spending on food away from home in 2022 was $3,639.

The table below shows how much you can earn with each credit card, using this national average:

How to choose the best credit card for dining and restaurants

Consider the following to choose the best credit cards for your restaurant and dining needs.

Rewards points

Review the terms of service carefully to determine how many points you can earn on each transaction. The best cards have rewards rates of 3% to 4% (or 3x to 4x points). You may want to look for a card with rewards in other common spending categories. For example, if you have a long commute, look for a gas credit card that offers bonus rewards on all gasoline purchases.

Statement credits

Some cards offer statement credits to maximize your earnings. For example, the Amex Gold Card comes with up to $10 per month in statement credits for dining purchases, giving you an additional $120 per year in benefits.

Dining rewards programs

To maximize your earnings, consider choosing a credit card based on the issuer’s dining rewards program. Chase Dining gives you extra rewards when you make reservations through its branded portal, and you also get access to exclusive dining experiences.

Delivery membership

Several dining credit cards come with complimentary subscriptions to DashPass, GrubHub and other delivery services. For example, the DoorDash Rewards card gives you access to a 12-month DashPass subscription at no additional charge. DashPass makes you eligible for $0 delivery fees on eligible orders.

Redeeming rewards

Review your rewards redemption options carefully. Otherwise, you may end up with a bunch of points you can’t use. For example, if you fly often, look for a travel card that allows you to transfer your points to an airline loyalty program or redeem your cash back for discounted airfare. If you love to shop, look for a credit card that allows you to redeem your points for gift cards.

Annual fee

It’s natural to want to save money by opting for a no-annual fee card, but sometimes, a card with a high annual fee is well worth the investment. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve has a $550 annual fee, but it comes with $1,000 in additional partner benefits. You can easily earn back the fee if you use your card regularly.

How to get the most dining rewards when eating out

Once you have your dining credit card in hand, follow these tips for maximizing your earnings.

Match dining rewards with spending habits

Choosing a card that earns rewards where you spend the most money is important. For example, if you order takeout more often than you dine at local restaurants, it won’t be worth applying for a cash-back card offering 4% back on dine-in purchases. You’ll need to look for a card that offers generous rewards on takeout and delivery orders.

Know the best ways to redeem points

Many cards allow you to redeem your points for dining purchases, but that doesn’t always give you the best value. You may benefit from using your rewards to book travel or request statement credits. For example, the Amex Gold Card offers 3x points on all flights booked via AmexTravel.com or directly with your preferred airline.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred gives you a 25% bonus when redeeming points via the Chase Travel portal, so it’s a great fit for frequent travelers.

Watch for rotating deals

If you want to make your card work for you, look for a credit card with rotating bonus categories. For example, Discover credit cards offer 5% cash back on restaurants during one quarter every year, boosting your earnings potential.

Look for payment partnerships

Some restaurants have loyalty programs or payment partnerships that give you extra rewards when you pay for your purchases via specific apps. For example, with Chase credit cards, you can earn bonus points if you use Chase Pay at a participating restaurant.

Avoid interest and fees

We recommend paying off your card bill every month. Otherwise, you’ll end up paying extra interest, which may negate the rewards you earned by using the card at your favorite eateries.

It’s also important to watch out for hidden fees that can cut into your earnings, such as foreign transaction fees and fees for cash advances.