The best 7 credit cards for restaurants and dining out
The best credit cards for dining out offer rewards on restaurant purchases and benefits like bonus points on entertainment or travel-related expenses.
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Kevin Payne is a finance and family travel expert. He writes about credit cards, travel, student loans, saving money, homeownership, careers, and entrepreneurship. His work has appeared in Forbes Advisor, The Ascent, FinanceBuzz, Slickdeals, Student Loan Planner, and more. He is working toward accreditation as an Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC).
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Hanna Horvath is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Bankrate's senior editor of content partnerships.
Updated April 23, 2024, 9:14 PM EDT
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If you're a foodie who loves to explore new restaurants, grab takeout on the way home, or enjoy the convenience of food delivery apps, a credit card that rewards you for dining out could be a game-changer.
By using a card that offers bonus points or cash back on restaurant purchases, you can turn your everyday dining expenses into valuable rewards that save you money or fund your next vacation.
The average American household spends $3,639 annually, or over $300 per month, on dining, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
That's a significant chunk of most people's budgets, and it represents a prime opportunity to earn credit card rewards on the money you're already spending.
But with so many different dining rewards credit cards on the market, it can be tough to know which one is right for you. To help you find the best card for your needs and spending habits, we've compiled a list of the 7 best credit cards for restaurants and dining out in 2024, along with their key features, pros, and cons.
What are the best credit cards for dining out?
Here are our top picks for the best credit cards for earning rewards on restaurant purchases and dining out:
- American Express® Gold Card: Best overall for dining
- Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for dining and groceries with no annual fee
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for earning travel rewards on dining
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for food delivery and DoorDash purchases
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Best for Hilton loyalists who dine out frequently
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®:Best for flexible cash back on dining with no annual fee
- Citi Custom Cash® Card: Best for customized rewards on your top spending category
Whether you prefer to earn cash back, points, or miles on your restaurant purchases, there's a dining rewards card on this list for you. Let's take a closer look at each one and see how they compare.
American Express® Gold Card: Best overall for dining
Who this card is for: If you're a serious foodie who spends a lot on dining out and groceries, the American Express Gold Card is hard to beat. It’s also an excellent choice for travelers who want to use rewards on everyday spending to offset airfare and hotel stays.
Rewards:
- 4X points on restaurants (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and Uber Eats
- 4X points on U.S. supermarket purchases (up to $25,000 per year, then 1X)
- 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or via American Express Travel
- 1X points on all other purchases
Annual fee: $250. See rates and fees.
If you can take full advantage of the Amex Gold Card's bonus categories and monthly credits, it offers exceptional value for anyone who spends a lot on dining out and groceries.
The 4X points earning rate on restaurants is best-in-class, and the ability to transfer points to travel partners can make them even more valuable.
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Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for dining and groceries with no annual fee
Who this card is for: Foodies and entertainment lovers looking to earn cash back while indulging. With unlimited cash back on groceries, restaurants, and takeout, this card helps you earn rewards without the annual fee.
Rewards:
- Unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming subscriptions, and grocery stores
- 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber and Uber Eats (through Nov. 14, 2024)
- 8% back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
- 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked using Capital One Travel
- 1% back on all other purchases
Annual fee: $0
For foodies on a budget, Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card offers an impressive combination of bonus cash back categories with no annual fee. The addition of popular streaming services and entertainment purchases as 3% categories is a nice perk as well.
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Chase Sapphire Preferred®: Best for earning travel rewards
Who this card is for: If you're a frequent traveler who wants to earn valuable points on your dining purchases, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is a great option.
Rewards:
- 5X points on travel through Chase Travel℠
- 5X total points on Lyft rides (through March 2025)
- 3X points on dining (including eligible delivery services), select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs)
- 2X points on other travel
- 1X points on other purchases
Annual fee: $95
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has long been a favorite of travelers thanks to its generous rewards rate on dining and travel, flexible redemption options, and valuable travel benefits.
If you're looking to turn your restaurant spending into free flights or hotel stays, this card is definitely worth considering.
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DoorDash Rewards Mastercard®: Best for takeout and food delivery
Who this card is for: If you're a frequent user of food delivery apps like DoorDash, the DoorDash Rewards Mastercard could be a great way to earn cash back on your orders.
Rewards: Earn 4% cash back on DoorDash and Caviar orders, 3% on dining bought directly from a restaurant, and 2% back at grocery stores (both online and in-store). Earn 1% back on all other purchases.
Annual fee: $0
If you're a loyal DoorDash or Caviar user, the DoorDash Rewards Mastercard is a no-brainer. The 4% cash back rate on those purchases is unbeatable, and the free DashPass subscription adds even more value.
Just keep in mind that the card's bonus categories are fairly narrow, so it may not be the best option for everyone.
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Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Best for hotel perks
Who this card is for: If you're a frequent traveler who stays at Hilton properties often and enjoys dining out on the road, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card could be a great choice.
Rewards:
- 6X points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations
- 12X points on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels and resorts
- 4X points on U.S. online retail purchases
- 3X on other eligible purchases
Annual fee: $150. See rates and fees.
If you're a loyal Hilton customer who wants to earn a ton of points on your dining and travel purchases, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card is definitely worth considering. The card's 12X earning rate on Hilton purchases and automatic Gold status are particularly valuable perks.
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Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Best for no annual fee
Who this card is for: If you're looking for a no-annual-fee credit card that earns solid cash back on dining purchases and a wide range of other categories, the Chase Freedom Unlimited is a great choice.
Rewards:
- 5% cash back on Lyft purchases (through March 2025)
- 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel
- 3% cash back on dining at restaurants
- 3% cash back on drugstore purchases
- 1.5% cash back on all other purchases
Annual fee: $0
The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a great all-around cash back card that offers solid earning rates on dining and everyday purchases. If you prefer the simplicity of cash back and don't want to keep track of multiple bonus categories, this card could be a great fit.
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Citi Custom Cash® Card: Best for customized rewards
Who this card is for: If you want a credit card that automatically adapts to your spending habits and offers a high cash back rate in the category where you spend the most each month, the Citi Custom Cash Card is an excellent choice.
Rewards:
- 5% cash back (on up to $500 each billing cycle, then 1%) on your top eligible spending category each billing cycle
4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal (through June 2025)
Annual fee: $0
If your spending habits tend to vary from month to month and you want a credit card that can keep up, the Citi Custom Cash Card could be a great choice. By automatically earning 5% cash back on your top eligible spending category each billing cycle, this card offers valuable rewards with minimal effort on your part.
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How to choose the best credit card for dining out and restaurants
When choosing a dining credit card, consider your spending and dining habits. How often do you eat out? Do you frequently order takeout or delivery? Where does dining fall in terms of your highest spending categories?
Some cards offer dining perks beyond points or cash back, like access to exclusive dining events, early reservations at coveted restaurants, or even discounts on hotel stays. If you travel regularly, consider cards with travel benefits like travel insurance or airport lounge access.
Lastly, look at the annual fee. Determine if your spending and potential rewards will offset the yearly cost. If you don’t want to deal with the added expense, there are plenty of no annual fee cards to choose from.
Tips for maximizing your dining rewards
A reward credit card can be a valuable tool — when used correctly. If you're going to get a credit card to earn rewards on dining and other categories, follow these tips.
- Choose the right card. It all starts with getting the best card for your needs. Find a rewards card that aligns with your spending habits to maximize rewards.
- Spend within your means. If you frequently dine out, include those expenses in your monthly budget. Rewards are worth the most when you can cover expenses without overextending yourself.
- Pay your balance in full each month. Interest charges eat up the value of your rewards. You can avoid these costly charges by paying your balance in full and on time each month.
- Use your card benefits the right way. Increase the value of your card by using added card perks, including credits, travel benefits, and insurance protections.
The bottom line
Dining credit cards offer incredible value if your monthly budget includes frequent trips to local restaurants or food delivery app orders. Some cards extend dining to grocery purchases, too, allowing you to earn rewards regardless of how you dine.
Consider how often you dine in (or out) to determine if getting a credit card that earns rewards for dining makes sense.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
[Disclaimer]: *Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visitamericanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company