Best Dining Credit Cards of August 2024

Compare Recommended Dining Credit Cards

10 Best Credit Cards for Restaurants of 2024

Best for Travel Rewards: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Why we chose it: If you’re traveling, you’re likely eating out—that’s why the bonus categories with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card go together so well. You’ll even earn an elevated rewards rate when you’re at home, since the card offers 3X points on online groceries excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs. With so many opportunities to earn points, it’s a fantastic option for those looking to earn travel rewards.

Best for Restaurants and U.S. Supermarkets: American Express® Gold Card

Why we chose it: The American Express® Gold Card rewards dining out and dining in equally, so you never have to think about which card to use when you’re buying food—and your rewards won’t plummet to zero if you decide to cut back on restaurant spending one month in favor of cooking at home. Plus, there are extra friendly benefits for foodies.

Best for Luxury Travel Perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Why we chose it: The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is always in the conversation about luxury travel rewards, and for good reason: It offers an eye-popping rate on travel purchased through Chase Travel, plus tons of premium perks.

Best for Business Owners: American Express® Business Gold Card

Why we chose it: Grabbing the tab for a table full of employees or clients can add up quickly. If that’s you, make sure you’re making the most of those purchases by charging them to dining credit cards with high rewards rates, like the American Express® Business Gold Card. The opportunity to earn 4X points on U.S. purchases at restaurants (including takeout and delivery) if that’s one of the top categories your business spends the most in, and on another top spending category each month from a list of six eligible (on up to the first $150,000 in combined category purchases each calendar year, then 1X points) makes it an essential business partner. Just note again that only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.

Best for Cash Back: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Why we chose it: This card definitely pays rewards worth savoring—unlimited 4% cash back on dining is rare, even among the best credit cards for restaurants. Plus, the 4% rate extends to popular streaming services and a broadly defined “entertainment” purchase category as well. Even better, you also get 3% back at grocery stores. 

All information about the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Newsweek Vault. The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is no longer available through Newsweek Vault.

Best for Everyday Purchases: Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Why we chose it: The useful cash back categories, versatile redemption options and welcome bonus make the Chase Freedom Unlimited® a solid offering for anyone looking to earn a great rate of rewards on dining at restaurants and beyond.

Best for Varied Spending: Citi Custom Cash® Card

Why we chose it: The Citi Custom Cash is a truly unique offering. It has the value of cards with elevated cash back categories, minus the confusion of actually remembering what those categories are. Automatically optimizing cash back categories means that, if one month you decide to splurge on a home improvement project and cut back on restaurant spending, your 5% cash back category will adjust accordingly.

Best for No Annual Fee: U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card

Why we chose it: The U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card offers 4X points on dining, takeout and restaurant delivery as well as 2X points at grocery stores, grocery delivery, streaming services, gas stations and EV charging stations—all for no annual fee. Although you won’t find any extra restaurant-specific perks, the rate alone makes this one of the best no-fee credit cards for dining.

Best for Customizable Cash Back: U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card

Why we chose it: 5% cash back is always worth a second look, and the U.S. Bank Cash+ doesn’t disappoint. With the U.S. Bank Cash+, you earn 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter in two categories you choose. Fast food is included in the list of categories you can choose from, and you can earn 2% cash back at restaurants.

Best for Bank of America Customers: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card

Why we chose it: If you have at least $20,000 saved with Bank of America, you can earn a bonus on your bonus rewards. Depending on your balance, you can earn 25% to 75% more cash back on every purchase through the Preferred Rewards program. So, 3% cash back on dining could actually turn into 3.75% to 5.25% back. Note, the 3% and 2% cash back categories are capped at up to $2,500 in combined spending each quarter; you’ll earn 1% thereafter.

Best for Frequent Delivery: DoorDash Rewards Mastercard®

Why we chose it: If you’re a fan of DoorDash, the DoorDash Rewards Mastercard® can help you recoup some of the costs from delivery fees. You’ll earn 4% cash back on DoorDash and Caviar orders. For DoorDash, that includes every type of order, whether you’re ordering delivery or pickup from restaurants, convenience stores, grocery stores, pet stores or other supported retailers. And when you’re in the mood to dine out or pick an order up yourself, you’ll still earn a competitive 3% cash back for making a purchase directly from a restaurant.

A Closer Look at the Best Cards for Dining Out

Best for Travel Rewards: Chase Sapphire Preferred

Why we love this card: Often, spending on travel and dining go hand in hand. For those who want to earn rewards on that dynamic duo for a reasonable annual fee, it’s hard to do better than the Chase Sapphire Preferred. Plus, you’ll even get rewarded for your grocery purchases, if you make them online. 

Who should have this in their wallet: Those who want to earn flights and hotel stays on their restaurant bills will love to watch the valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points stack up with this card.

Other cards to consider: If you want to take the benefits up a notch, consider the American Express Gold Card, which offers credits like an annual dining credit, or the Chase Sapphire Reserve, which offers more travel perks. Both of these dining credit cards come at a higher annual fee, however.

Learn more or read our Chase Sapphire Preferred Card review.

Best for Restaurants and U.S. Supermarkets: American Express Gold Card

Why we love this card: Sometimes, restaurant rewards cards aren’t the most practical, especially if you’re trying to stick to a budget. The Amex Gold card is your friend when you’re saving money by cooking at home and when you’re treating yourself to dining out, thanks to the heightened rewards in eligible categories. Plus, the Uber Cash and dining credits offer added value for food fans. There’s also a $100 Resy credit each calendar year (up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually) to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases with your enrolled card.

Who should have this in their wallet: Everyone has to eat, and most people get their food either at U.S. supermarkets or at restaurants worldwide. For that reason, the Amex Gold could be a valuable everyday card for nearly anyone, but especially those who are interested in redeeming rewards for travel and are okay with the $325 annual fee. 

Other cards to consider: The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers similar bonus categories for a lower annual fee. You might not earn as many points, but you also can carry that card for a lower cost.

Learn more or read our American Express Gold Card review.

Best for Luxury Travel Perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve

Why we love this card: If you’ve ever traveled with a group, you know that everyone has their own travel preferences. Packed with perks and ultra-high bonus category rates, this is the card for those who like to travel in style. If you actually use the plentiful credits and rewards, it’s well worth the annual fee.  

Who should have this in their wallet: Road warriors, pond-hoppers and anyone who is checking in for flights or hotel stays often will appreciate this card’s numerous travel-focused benefits. If you think restaurant rewards pair well with perks like airport lounge access, an annual travel credit and delivery service subscriptions (and don’t mind the $550 annual fee), the Chase Sapphire Reserve might be a match.

Other cards to consider: The Chase Sapphire Preferred actually offers the same rate—3X—on dining purchases. It comes with far fewer credits, but if you’re just looking for a card that earns on travel and dining without all the bells and whistles, the Chase Sapphire Preferred may do the trick.

Learn more or read our Chase Sapphire Reserve review.

Best for Business Owners: American Express Business Gold Card

Why we love this card: This card takes some of the best of the American Express Gold Card—already one of the best credit cards for dining—and adds additional perks tailored to small businesses. On top of a lucrative earning rate for valuable Membership Rewards points, this card offers nearly $400 in potential business value through annual credits.

Who should have this in their wallet: The ideal cardholder is an entrepreneur who’s interested in turning dining tabs into flights and hotel stays. The automatically-optimizing rewards categories add to the appeal for busy entrepreneurs who want one card to use for everything.   

Other cards to consider: The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express is another great option for busy business owners. It doesn’t charge an annual fee (see rates and fees), but the earning rate on dining (2X on the first $50,000 spent each year, then 1X points) is lower than that of the Amex Business Gold.

Learn more or read our American Express Business Gold Card review.

Best for Cash Back: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Why we love this card: This card is unique, with few competitors offering cash back in the same categories, and even fewer who offer it at such a high rate. 4% back at restaurants is impressive enough, but the Savor extends that rate to entertainment purchases, which can include everything from football game tickets to movie admission. The addition of 3% back at grocery stores makes this card even more useful for your everyday life. Plus, through November 14, 2024, you can get a complimentary Uber One membership when you pay for a monthly plan with your Savor card, and eligible cardholders can also get 10% cash back on purchases with Uber and Uber Eats.

Who should have this in their wallet: Thanks to the dining and entertainment reward categories, this is a great option for restaurant frequenters and busy bees. But the addition of 3% back at grocery stores makes this an excellent choice for anyone, as long as you’re looking for cash back and okay with paying an annual fee.

Other cards to consider: An annual fee can be hard to swallow—especially if you’re not getting all the fancy perks that some travel credit cards with comparable annual fees offer. If you’re okay with earning at a lower rate in exchange for no annual fee, consider this card’s little sibling, the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card.

Read our Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card review.

All information about the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Newsweek Vault. The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is no longer available through Newsweek Vault.

Best for Everyday Purchases: Chase Freedom Unlimited

Why we love this card: A good companion for every day, the no-annual fee Chase Freedom Unlimited offers boosted cash back on dining at restaurants, drugstores and travel purchased through Chase Travel. Plus, instead of the standard 1% cash back on “everything else,” the Freedom Unlimited offers 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Who should have this in their wallet: If, in addition to dining out, you hit the drugstore often, you’ll likely find the Chase Freedom Unlimited valuable. Also, if first-year bonuses get you excited, this card offers an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).

Other cards to consider: The Freedom Unlimited’s drugstore category has everyday appeal if you actually spend a lot of money at drugstores. But if grocery stores tend to be a larger expense for you every month, you might earn more with the Capital One SavorOne, which also has no annual fee and earns 3% cash back both on dining and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Target and Walmart).

Learn more or read our Chase Freedom Unlimited review.

Best for Varied Spending: Citi Custom Cash Card

Why we love this card: The automatically optimizing 5% cash back category (on up to $500 in spending per billing cycle, then 1%) works in your favor, especially if your spending habits change from month to month. Plus, the eligible categories are pretty useful, including restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores and more. If you fully maximize your spending each billing cycle, you’ll earn at least $25 in cash back per billing cycle and $300 annually. 

Who should have this in their wallet: If you alternate between months when you spend a lot on dining and then not much at all, this card can help keep your cash back earnings consistently high. Just be sure that you’re not using it as if all of the eligible bonus categories earn 5% cash back. 

Other cards to consider: If cash back at restaurants and grocery stores (not one or the other) appeals to you, you might consider the Capital One Savor or the Capital One SavorOne. The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card is another great option, allowing you to choose your bonus category each month.

Read our Citi Custom Cash Card review.

Best for No Annual Fee: U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card

Why we love this card: This card is a dining rewards superstar, offering a rarely matched 4X rate on purchases at restaurants. That means you can expect $4 back on every $100 you spend at restaurants. That alone is impressive, but the addition of 2X points at grocery stores, gas stations and on streaming services makes it even more impressive that this card charges no annual fee.

Who should have this in their wallet: Fee-averse food lovers will appreciate the fabulous rate they’ll get at restaurants, plus the valuable bonus categories for everyday purchases. If restaurant checks are a big part of your monthly budget, it’s hard to do better than this card. 

Other cards to consider: The Capital One Savor is one of the only other credit cards for dining that gives the U.S. Bank Altitude Go a run for its money. It offers the same 4X rate (though in the form of 4% cash back) on dining purchases, plus 3% back at grocery stores. The catch: It charges an annual fee.

Read our U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card review.

Best for Customizable Cash Back: U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card

Why we love this card: The U.S. Bank Cash+ Card can serve a lot of purposes, depending on how you set it up. Though restaurants aren’t the highest-rewarded purchases, you can expect a solid rate of 2% back on dining at restaurants, which also extends to groceries and gas stations. Then, you can customize your top two cash back categories and earn additional rewards based on your spending habits.

Who should have this in their wallet: Those who want a guaranteed good rate on dining and everyday purchases plus the ability to strategize for even higher earnings will find this card useful. Those who are on the road enough to spend significantly at fast food restaurants will especially love the option to earn heightened cash back on those purchases. 

Other cards to consider: The Citi Custom Cash Card offers a similar setup, with 5% cash back in your top eligible spend category (on up to $500 in purchases per billing cycle, then 1%). But instead of choosing your category, the card automatically selects the category you’ve spent the most on within each billing cycle. 

Read our U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card review.

Best for Bank of America Customers: Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card

Why we love this card: The ability to select your own bonus categories is valuable for anyone who likes the game of maximizing your earnings—especially those with varied spending. And with no annual fee and a great base rate on grocery store and wholesale club purchases, there are few people who wouldn’t benefit from this card’s bonus categories.

Who should have this in their wallet: It’s a great card for anyone, but especially those who bank with Bank of America. If you’re a Preferred Rewards member (you have an eligible Bank of America account with a balance of at least $20,000), you may earn an additional 25% to 75% cash back on every purchase. That means your 3% cash back on dining can actually end up being 3.75% to 5.25%. 

Other cards to consider: If you don’t qualify for the Preferred Rewards bonus, there are other no-annual-fee cards with customizable cash back categories, like the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card.

Read our Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card review.

Best for Frequent Delivery: DoorDash Rewards Mastercard®

Why we love this card: DoorDash service and delivery fees are notorious for adding up quickly, so this card can help frequent users earn some of that money back. In addition to the 4% cash back rate on DoorDash and Caviar purchases, you’ll get extra app-specific perks like an introductory offer for a free year of DashPass, which comes with free delivery and reduced service fees. You can also use the card for other DoorDash order categories like groceries, convenience stores and retail—and you’ll receive one monthly 10% discount (up to $15) on those types of orders that are eligible (offer expires 12/31/2024). Earn 3% cash back on direct restaurant purchases and 2% cash back from grocery stores.

Who should have this in their wallet: This card will bring the most value to DoorDash loyalists who have a good network of participating restaurants and stores in their area. If you often use other food delivery apps or order directly from restaurants, it may not make as much sense to have this one in your wallet.

Other cards to consider: The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards card earns 4% cash back at all restaurants—and if Uber Eats is your app of choice, the Savor features 10% cash back on those purchases (and Uber rides). That’s through November 14, 2024. But if you’re deterred by an annual fee, consider the U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card, which pays 4X points on all dining, takeout and delivery purchases.

All information about the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Newsweek Vault. The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is no longer available through Newsweek Vault.

How To Choose the Best Credit Card for Dining Out for You

Never skip dessert, and never skip the research process when choosing between the best dining credit cards. Though the rewards rate is the main course, there’s a lot to consider before you apply for a new credit card. Many restaurant rewards cards have specific definitions of “dining out” and come with a slew of food-related benefits.

Dining Rewards and Benefits

Of course, compare credit cards to see which card can get you the best rate on your dining out purchases. But also consider the type of rewards you’ll be earning—cash back, points or miles. Maybe you want to turn your restaurant bills into free flights, or maybe you’d like some extra cash to treat yourself to an extravagant meal.

Ongoing rewards aren’t the only consideration—lots of food-focused cards offer ancillary dining perks, like membership to restaurant delivery services, annual dining credits and exclusive restaurant reservations. 

One thing to remember when comparing restaurant rewards cards: Not every card defines dining in the same way. If you often pick up takeout or order through delivery apps like DoorDash, be sure that the card you’re getting recognizes those purchases as restaurant purchases. Third-party delivery services like these are hit or miss, but purchases that usually don’t count as restaurant purchases include: 

• Meal-kit subscriptions
• Gas station hot bars
• Inflight meals
• Catering services

Rewards in Other Categories

Even if dining is your primary focus and largest spending category, chances are you have additional expenses each month. Most cards with bonus categories have at least two, and that second category can be impactful, too. Some cards keep the focus on food by pairing dining and groceries together, while others might be more geared toward jetsetters, rewarding dining and travel purchases.

Take a look at a past credit card statement and determine what other bonus categories might be useful for you. It also helps to factor in other credit cards you have and what bonus categories they reward. Maybe the Capital One Savor’s “entertainment” category can cover a lot of your additional spending, or maybe one of the higher-end American Express or Chase cards targets your frequent travel spending.

Annual Fees

Dining is a common category among luxury credit cards that charge hundreds in annual fees, but you don’t have to pay an annual fee to earn rewards at restaurants. If you’re consistently picking up the tab at business dinners or eating most meals out, it might make sense to choose a card with an annual fee—especially if the other bonus categories or benefits are applicable to you. Otherwise, there are plenty of cards that offer a great rate at restaurants that you can carry for no yearly cost.

How to Maximize A Dining Credit Card

Taking full advantage of your dining rewards credit cards requires some forethought. If you’re mindful of this a few steps in advance, you can squeeze the most rewards from your next dining experience. Here are some ways to earn more using the best credit cards for restaurants.

• Don’t forget to activate bonus rewards categories. Some dining rewards credit cards offer quarterly bonus categories, like for restaurant spending. However, you must activate the bonus each quarter before your dining spend can earn those extra rewards.
• Enroll in dining rewards programs. A dining rewards program through your favorite airline or hotel lets you earn loyalty points or miles per dollar toward its traveler loyalty program. Simply, enroll in their program, and register your rewards credit card. Every dining dollar spent through your registered credit card earns rewards through the dining program, in addition to your credit card’s existing rewards program.  
• Check restaurant partner offers frequently. Some of the best credit cards for restaurants offer exclusive, limited-time dining partner deals. For example, the card might offer extra bonus rewards per dollar spent at a particular restaurant (likely up to a maximum spend). Keep in mind that you must usually add the special offer to your card before making your dining purchase.

Why Should I Get a Credit Card for Restaurants and Dining Out?

Of course, people who regularly go out for meals will benefit from dining credit cards that reward those types of purchases. But it’s not just sit-down dining that this applies to. Generally, takeout and delivery qualify as restaurant purchases too, making these cards useful for any time you don’t feel like cooking. 

If you’re deciding between a card that rewards groceries and a card that rewards eating out, it’s helpful to look at a past credit card statement to see which category you spend more within. It can also be useful to have one card that rewards each category, since most people tend to strike a healthy balance of dining out and cooking at home.