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Everyone has to eat. Whether you are going to a favorite restaurant, hitting up the drive-thru or enjoying a home-cooked meal, there is a cost involved somewhere along the way. To help you get the best rewards for every dollar spent, we’ve compiled credit cards that offer the best restaurant and dining rewards.
Best Dining and Restaurant Credit Cards
| Card | Rewards Rate | Best For | Annual Fee | Learn More |
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1x- 5xPoints
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. |
Best for strong travel rewards redemptions |
$95 | Apply Now |
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1% - 5%Cashback
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. |
Best for strong rewards rates |
$0 |
Apply Now Rates & Fees |
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1X-10XPoints
10x on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked through CitiTravel.com 3x -- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases 3x -- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Restaurants 3x -- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Supermarkets 3x -- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Gas and EV Charging Stations 1x -- Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on All Other Purchases |
Best for rewards on everyday spending |
$95 |
Apply Now Rates & Fees |
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1.5% - 5%Cashback
Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 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, and 1.5% on all other purchases |
Best for generous sign-up bonus |
$0 | Apply Now |
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1x - 10xPoints
Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. |
Best for luxury perks |
$550 | Apply Now |
Chase Sapphire Preferred®
- Our Rating 5/5 How our ratings work
- APR20.99% - 27.99% (Variable)
- Annual Fee$95
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Sign Up Bonus
60,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $1,380 (60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.023 base)
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of the gold standards for earning travel rewards. It has a generous sign-up bonus and you can earn points on travel and dining expenses. The card does have an annual fee, but you can continue earning points through bonus categories and an anniversary points boost.
Overview
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is pretty flexible as it lets you transfer rewards points into miles or points several airlines and hotel programs. You can take advantage of strong transfer partners such as United, Southwest, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Hyatt. Similarly, you can book any reservation you want through the Chase Travel℠ portal. Although the card might not be ideal for the most frequent travelers, it has a built-in upgrade path, so when it’s time to level up your travel rewards game, you won’t have to start from scratch.
Pros
- Points are easily transferable to airlines and hotel partners
- Accelerated earnings on dining, travel & household purchases
- Excellent travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Not ideal for the highest spenders
- $95 annual fee
Best For: Strong Travel Rewards
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the gold standards for earning travel rewards. This travel credit card helps users earn points quickly with accelerated rewards in everyday spending categories like travel and dining.
Cardholders enjoy perks like a $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, 10% anniversary point boost and access to the Chase Travel℠ portal.
New cardmembers can earn 60,000 bonus points after using their credit card to spend $4,000 within three months of account opening. This bonus is worth $750 in travel reservations booked through Chase Travel℠, but potentially more when transferred to airline and hotel partners. Read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.
Citi Custom Cash® Card
- Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
- APR18.49% - 28.49% (Variable)
- Annual Fee$0
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Sign-Up Bonus
$200Cash Bonus
Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1500 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.
The Citi Custom Cash® Card, from our partner Citi, has a novel approach to rewarding spending. It offers impressive cash back on purchases made in your top eligible spending category each month, up to a monthly spend cap—no activation required.
Overview
If you want a card that doesn’t require constant category activation and monitoring to make sure you’re getting the highest cash back percentage, this is a great option. Whatever spending category that has the highest spend (up to $500) in one billing cycle gets 5% cash back. That’s up to $300 per year, and if you get the sign-up bonus you can get up to $500 in cash back your first year.
Pros
- Relatively easy to maximize the 5% cash back reward and earn $300 per year
- No annual fee
- The cash back comes in the form of Citi ThankYou points, which can be redeemed for things like travel
Cons
- 5% cash back tier is capped at $25 in earnings per month
Best for: Strong Rewards Rates
The Citi Custom Cash® Card, from our partner Citi, gives cardholders the chance to earn 5% cash back every month on their top eligible spending category, up to $500 each month — no activation required. This Citi card is technically billed as a cash-back credit card, but you’ll actually earn ThankYou Points, which can be worth more than traditional cash-back rewards.
Citi Custom Cash Card is offering $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 in the first 6 months — that’s 20,000 ThankYou Points, which you can redeem for cash back or for a number of other things, including gift cards and travel. Read our full review of the Citi Custom Cash Card.
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
- Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
- APR20.49% - 28.49% (Variable)
- Annual Fee$95
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Sign Up Bonus
75,000Citi ThankYou® Points
Limited Time Offer: 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. Dollar Equivalent: $1,350 (75,000 Citi ThankYou® Points * 0.018 base)
The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card, from our partner Citi, is worth considering if you’re looking for accelerated travel rewards but don’t want to pay a huge annual fee. It’s easy to quickly rack up lots of points on this card. While you can redeem ThankYou points for gift cards, you’ll get more value when you redeem points for flights and hotels, and potentially even better value when you transfer points to travel partners.
Overview
This credit card offers its members a range of incentives, such as bonus points, gift cards and 1:1 point transfers with airline partners. One of the more unique features of the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card from our partner Citi is that it offers 3x ThankPoints for every dollar spent at supermarkets, gas stations, EV charging stations, restaurants and travel purchases. You also get an annual hotel credit of $100 off your reservation of $500 or more when booked through CitiTravel.com.
Perks
- Earn 3x ThankYou Points per dollar spent on travel, grocery stores, restaurants, EV charging stations and gas stations
- Annual $100 hotel savings benefit. Just book a hotel stay of $500 or more through CitiTravel.com to earn the discount.
- No foreign transaction fees
- Easily transfer your points to Citi's airline partners
Pros
- High reward rate on common categories of consumer spending
- Points are easily transferable to airlines and hotel partners
- No foreign transaction fees
- Points never expire
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- No standout rewards category
Best for: Rewards on Everyday Spending Categories and Transfer Partners
More Details: The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card, from our partner Citi, is worth considering if you’re looking for a travel credit card, but don’t want to pay a huge annual fee. The Citi Strata Premier Card offers new cardholders a sign-up bonus of 75,000 ThankYou Points after spending $4,000 during the first three months of account opening.
Additionally, this Citi credit card offers a range of incentives, such as bonus points, gift cards and deals with retail partners. Best of all, you’ll get more value when you redeem points for flights, and potentially even better value when you transfer points to Citi's travel partners.
Read our full review of the Citi Strata Premier Card.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
- Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
- APR19.99% - 28.74% (Variable)
- Annual Fee$0
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Sign Up Bonus
1.5%Extra Cash Back
Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That’s 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.
We like that the card offers a high flat rewards rate but also provides accelerated rewards on some common everyday spending categories. You’ll also get access to the Chase TravelSM portal, which allows you to use your cash-back earnings for travel rewards, gift cards and more. If you make this your primary card for most purchases you can quickly rack up a lot of rewards.
Overview
The Chase Freedom Unlimited card is unique for a couple of reasons. First, it comes with purchase protection and extended warranty protection you don’t see with some other cash-back cards. Second, you earn cash back in the form of points and when paired with another annual-fee earning Chase product, you can get even more value if you love to travel by transferring to partners.
That’s because while the Freedom cards are marketed as cash-back credit cards, they actually offer points. You can use those points to book travel through Chase at a rate of 1 cent per point. But if you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® or Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you’ll get 25% and 50% more value on those travel redemptions, respectively. (Plus, the ability to transfer your points, too.)
Pros
- No category bonuses to remember; earn at least 1.5% back on everything
- No annual fee
- Generous travel and purchase protection benefits
Cons
- Can't transfer Chase points unless paired with another annual-fee Chase product
Best for: Generous Sign-Up Bonus
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a valuable all-around credit card with no annual fee. This cash-back card earns a rewards rate of 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase TravelSM, 3% back at drugstores, 3% back on dining, including takeout and eligible delivery services and a flat-rate 1.5% back on other purchases. There are no rotating categories to track, caps on how much you can earn or excluded purchase categories.
As part of a special offer, new cardholders can earn an extra 1.5% cash back on all purchases (up to $20,000 spent) during the first year of card-membership. This brings the total potential earning power of this card up to 6.5% during the promotional period. If you plan to use this card a lot, you could easily earn enough cash back to be competitive with the best sign-up bonuses currently available. Read our full review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited Card.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
- APR21.99% - 28.99% (Variable)
- Annual Fee$550
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Sign-Up Bonus
60,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $1,380 (60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.023 base)
This card features an annual credit for travel purchases, which can offset the annual fee, plus bonus points when you sign up. You'll also get free access to tons of Priority Pass lounges and restaurant options around the world, along with access to the Chase Sapphire Lounge network.
Overview
If you’re looking to elevate your travel experience, look no further than the Chase Sapphire Reserve. When you first get approved, you’ll earn a generous sign-up bonus that can be used for travel-related spending booked through Chase Travel℠. Transfer the points to one of Chase’s airline or hotel partners and they’re potentially worth even more.
Pros
- An array of premium travel perks including access to Priority Pass lounges
- Easy-to-use $300 travel credit that helps offset card's annual fee
- Generous rewards rates for spending
Cons
- High annual fee may be a deterrent for some
- Perks are starting to get stale relative to newer competition
Best for: Luxury Perks
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is among the top premium travel cards available. While this credit card comes with a hefty $550 annual fee, the Sapphire Reserve is packed with travel perks that more than make up for the expense.
Right off the bat, the Chase Sapphire Reserve features a $300 annual travel credit. You also get free access to more than 1,300 Priority Pass lounges and restaurant options in airports around the world. Those lounges usually give you free food and drinks, cleaner bathrooms, fast internet and a comfortable place to sit outside of the ruckus of an airport terminal.
New cardholders can also earn a sign-up bonus of 60,000 points after they spend $4,000 during the first three months of account opening. This Chase Sapphire Reserve bonus is worth $900 in travel redemptions when booking through Chase Travel℠ — where each point is worth at least 1.5 cents. Read our full Chase Sapphire Reserve review.
How to Choose the Best Credit Card for Restaurant and Dining Rewards
When selecting the best restaurant credit cards for your wallet, start by estimating your monthly and annual spending on food purchases. This initial step will help you determine which offers the most value based on your specific spending patterns, whether that involves dining out at restaurants, ordering delivery or enjoying at-home meals through online grocery purchases.
Here are some important factors to consider when choosing the right dining rewards card:
- Rewards rate on dining: Choose cards that offer a high rewards rate on dining purchases at restaurants, including fast food restaurants and other eligible dining categories. This ensures maximum rewards for every dollar spent on dining experiences.
- Annual fee: Evaluate whether the rewards rate and benefits justify the annual fee. The right card should offer valuable rewards that more than cover the annual fee, based on your dining spending.
- Points vs. cash back vs. miles: Decide between earning points, cash back or miles. Points are versatile for travel or dining redemptions; cash back is straightforward and flexible; miles are ideal for frequent flyers looking to save on flights. Choose the currency that best fits your lifestyle.
- Sign-up bonuses: Look for popular credit cards that offer generous sign-up bonuses that fit within your monthly spending habits. These bonuses can significantly enhance your rewards potential in the first year.
- Dining credits: Cards that provide restaurant credits or discounts for food delivery services add extra value, especially for those who frequently enjoy dining out or ordering food delivery.
- Complimentary memberships: Benefits such as complimentary memberships for food delivery platforms, free airport lounge access or exclusive dining experiences can significantly improve your dining card's value.
- Eligible dining categories: Confirm whether your card's dining category covers a wide range of restaurant purchases, including fast food, catering and/or sports bars.
- Foreign transaction fees: If you travel abroad often, opt for a restaurant credit card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees.
- Additional benefits: Seek out dining cards that offer standout benefits beyond the restaurant category, such as bonus miles and points for popular streaming services or grocery store purchases. Some credit card issuers offer perks like culinary events, exclusive restaurant reservations or special dining experiences that can add a lot of value too.
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a New Credit Card & Comparing Offers
Should You Get a Dining Rewards Credit Card?
For people who enjoy eating out a lot, dining credit cards are ideal, as they turn each meal into a chance to earn rewards. Restaurant rewards credit cards are particularly well-suited for epicureans who find themselves regularly exploring new restaurants or returning to favorite spots.
However, if your spending on dining is minimal, a general rewards card might be a better fit and help you unlock greater value in areas where you spend more.
FAQs
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Yes, most credit card issuers include fast-food purchases in the dining and restaurant category. However, sometimes fast-food purchases at entertainment venues, sport arenas and airports do not code as dining. In these cases, you’ll earn rewards either in the entertainment category or your card’s base rewards rate.
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Starbucks is usually counted as a dining or restaurant purchase. However, it depends on how the individual merchant codes itself. So if you find that a particular Starbucks did not award you the correct amount of rewards, then it is most likely an issue with that specific Starbucks.
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Yes. In most cases, credit card issuers will count purchases made in bars as a dining or restaurant expense. However, it will depend on the specific establishment’s merchant category code.
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Most credit card issuers will code orders from food delivery apps like UberEats and Doordash as restaurants/dining.
Ryan Tronier
Ryan Tronier is a personal finance expert and writer. His work has been published on NBC, ABC, USATODAY, The Mortgage Reports, Yahoo Finance, MSN, and more. Ryan is the former managing editor of the finance website Sapling, as well as the former personal finance editor at Slickdeals. Find him online at ryantronier.com.
