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Searching for the best credit card for dining and restaurants in 2025? With dining out and ordering in being a staple of daily life, maximizing rewards on these purchases is now more important than ever. Whether you're a food enthusiast or just grabbing a quick bite after a long day, the right credit card can turn every meal into an opportunity to earn valuable rewards that can put a little extra back in your pocket or help translate to that next vacation.
A significant portion of most food budgets goes to dining out, which creates a golden opportunity to rack up points or cash back with the right credit card. If you're not using a card tailored for dining rewards, you're leaving significant money on the table.
Here's a quick overview of the top options:
(Terms apply)
- 4X Membership Rewards® Points at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. (on up to $50,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)
- 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)
- 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com
- 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels and other eligible travel booked on amextravel.com
- 1X on other eligible purchases
- 5X points on Lyft rides through September 2027
- 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide
- 3X points on eligible streaming services
- 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
- 2X points on all other travel
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 8% cash back on purchases made via the Capital One Entertainment ticketing platform
- 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)
- 3% cash back on dining and entertainment
- 3% at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®)
- 3% on popular streaming services
- 1% on all other purchases
But there's a lot more to choosing the right card. Read on for more about how to pick the best dining credit card for you.
Page Contents
- How To Choose the Best Credit Cards for Restaurants and Dining Out in 2025
- Overview of the Best Rewards Credit Cards for Dining & Restaurants
- Best Flexible Rewards-Earning Credit Cards for Restaurants
- Best Credit Card for Dining With No Annual Fee
- Best Credit Card for Earning Cash Back on Dining
- Best Dining Rewards Card for Small Businesses
- Best Credit Card for Dining on the First Day of the Month
- Stack With a Dining Program for More Earnings
- What Purchases Are Included in the Dining & Restaurant Category?
- Final Thoughts
- Best Credit Card For Dining Purchases FAQ
- Which dining credit card is best?
- Is it better to use debit or credit cards to buy dinner at a restaurant?
- Why do some restaurants not accept American Express cards, even if these cards offer excellent dining rewards?
- What is the best cash-back credit card for restaurants?
- Does buying food on a credit card build credit?
How To Choose the Best Credit Cards for Restaurants and Dining Out in 2025
Choosing the best credit card for dining out and restaurant purchases is a decision that should be tailored to your individual needs and preferences. Are you chasing flexible rewards points that transfer to airline or hotel partners? Or do you prefer earning fixed-value rewards to pay for other expenses? Maybe you would rather earn cash back on dining.
Here are some considerations to keep in mind when choosing the best credit cards for restaurants:
- Spending habits: Examine how often you dine out and how much you spend on average. This will help you determine the potential returns you can get from a card's rewards structure and evaluate whether these are worth an annual fee in exchange for higher earnings.
- Rewards and benefits: Are you more interested in flexible rewards points that can be transferred to airline or hotel partners? Or perhaps you're leaning towards fixed-value rewards points that you can use at restaurants or for other travel expenses like car rentals. Evaluate the rewards rates and benefits of each card.
- Fees: Always be mindful of any annual fees or other charges associated with the card. Sometimes, a card may offer great rewards, but the fees might negate the benefits.
No matter your goal, we want to help you maximize your purchases. To that end, let's dive into our list of the best credit cards for restaurants and dining and see which card takes the top spot.
Related: Use These Credit Cards for Free Food Delivery Perks
Overview of the Best Rewards Credit Cards for Dining & Restaurants
We've got most of the bases covered with the cards detailed below. However, to present an even broader perspective of the category, we've created a table covering most of the major cards. For candidates to make it into this table, the card needs to provide at least a 3% return on restaurant spending.
| Credit Card | Points Earned on Dining & Restaurants | Other Bonus Categories | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citi Prestige® Card (no longer open to new applicants) | 5X ThankYou® Points on dining | • 5X points airfare • 3X points on hotels and cruise lines | $495 |
| American Express® Gold Card | 4X at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 per year, then 1X), plus takeout and delivery in the U.S | • 4X points at US supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year) • 3X points on airfare on a scheduled flight charged directly with the airline or amextravel.com (charter flights/private jet flights excluded) | $325 (Rates & Fees) |
| American Express® Business Gold Card | 4X points at U.S. restaurants (if it's one of the 2 eligible categories where your business spends the most in a billing cycle) | 4X Membership Rewards® points on the 2 eligible categories where your business spent the most each billing cycle including: • U.S. purchases for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio) • U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers • U.S. purchases at gas stations • U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery • Transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways • Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S. *4X points applies to the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these 2 categories each calendar year Then earn 1 point per dollar. 3X points on prepaid airfare and hotels at AmexTravel.com | $375 (Rates & Fees) |
| Citi Strata Premier℠ Card | 3X ThankYou Points on dining | • 10X points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com • 3X points on airfare and other hotels • 3X points on gas and EV charging • 3X points on groceries | $95 |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees) | 10X points on Chase Dining (including prepaid reservations and takeout purchased through Ultimate Rewards) 3X points on dining elsewhere | • 10X points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase • 5X points on airfare purchased through Chase • 3X points on other travel worldwide | $550 |
| American Express® Green Card | 3X on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the US. | 3X Membership Rewards® points on travel including airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, campgrounds, and vacation rentals, plus 3X on transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways | $150 |
| Chase Freedom Flex℠ | 3% on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services | • 5% on up to $1,500 on combined purchases in quarterly bonus categories from the Chase Freedom calendar • 5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards • 3% on drugstore purchases | $0 |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited® (Rates & Fees) | 3% on dining at restaurants | • 5% on travel purchased through Chase • 3% on drugstore purchases • 1.5% on all non-bonus purchases | $0 |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees) | 3X points on dining | • 5X points on travel purchased through Chase • 3X points on eligible streaming services • 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs) • 2X points on all other travel | $95 |
| U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card | 4X points on takeout, food delivery, and dining (on up to $2,000 spent each quarter) | • 2X points at grocery stores, grocery delivery, streaming services, and gas stations | $0 |
| The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express | Earn 2X points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter. Terms and limitations apply. | N/A | $0 (Rates & Fees) |
| Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card | 3% cash back on dining | • 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases • 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel • 3% cash back on entertainment • 3% cash back on popular streaming services • 3% cash back at grocery stores | $0 |
| Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi | 3% cash back on restaurants | • 4% cash back on gas and EV charging purchases (up to $7,000 per year, then 1% after that) • 3% cash back on eligible travel purchases • 2% cash back at Costco stores and Costco.com | $0 |
| U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® | 3% cash back at restaurants | • 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Travel Rewards Center • 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations • 3% cash back at office supply stores • 3% cash back at cell phone service providers | $0 |
Below, we’ll guide you through the best options for each rewards category.
Best Flexible Rewards-Earning Credit Cards for Restaurants
Of the best dining cards currently open to new applicants, the American Express® Gold Card delivers the most bang for your buck at your favorite eatery over the long term. That's because it earns 4X Membership Rewards points per dollar on up to $50,000 spent each calendar year (then 1X) at restaurants worldwide — including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 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 per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That's up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made at restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- 4X Membership Rewards® Points at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. (on up to $50,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)
- 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)
- 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com
- 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels and other eligible travel booked on amextravel.com
- 1X on other eligible purchases
The Amex Gold comes with a $325 annual fee (Rates & Fees). However, three valuable benefits help offset the annual fee:
- Up to $120 annual dining credits: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Amex Gold at Five Guys, Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, and Wine.com. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
- Up to $84 in Dunkin' credits annually: Receive up to $7 per month when you pay with the Amex Gold at any U.S.-based Dunkin' or through Dunkin's mobile app. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
- Up to $120 Uber Cash annually: Get $10 per month deposited into your connected Uber account, which can be used for taking an Uber ride or for Uber Eats purchases within the U.S. This credit expires at the end of each month if not used. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
Amex Disclosure: To receive $10 monthly credits (up to $120 per year) in Uber Cash, you must add the American Express® Gold Card to your Uber account and select it as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction.
Plus, with the Amex Gold, you'll earn 4X Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X), making it the best card for both dining and groceries. This card is great for racking up points on your food bill, whether you're dining in or eating out.
Related: Amex Gold Review
Considering alternatives to the Amex Gold?
While the Amex Gold delivers the best earning rates for dining and restaurants, it's not the only player in the game. For those who might find the $325 annual fee a bit steep or want to look at different reward structures to complement other cards in your wallet, there are some excellent alternatives.
The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card, for instance, earns 3X ThankYou® Points on dining and earns flexible rewards points, as does the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees), which also features a ton of high-value perks and benefits for cardholders. Another contender for flexible rewards is the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, which offers a flat 2X Capital One miles on every purchase, meaning you don't need to juggle multiple cards to earn a solid return on dining spend.
Best Credit Card for Dining With No Annual Fee
A stalwart of the Chase Ultimate Rewards stable of credit cards, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® (Rates & Fees) sports a dizzying array of bonus categories, including 3% cash back (or 3X Chase Ultimate Rewards points) on restaurant dining (including takeout and eligible delivery services). This makes it one of the best credit cards for restaurants, especially for those wanting a card without an annual fee.
- Intro Offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 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.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.99% - 28.49%.
- No annual fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- Earn 5% on purchases through Chase Travel℠
- Earn 3% on dining at restaurants
- Earn 3% on drugstore purchases
- Earn 1.5% on all purchases
When used as a cash rewards credit card, these points are worth 1¢ each towards a selection of redemption options, including cash back. However, the value increases if you also hold the Sapphire Preferred or another Ultimate Rewards credit card charging an annual fee. If so, you can combine your Ultimate Rewards points and redeem them for an increased value towards travel. Or you can leverage the Ultimate Rewards transfer partners for potentially much more value.
This transforms the 3X points you earn on dining into a potential 4.5% return, making this one of the most rewarding credit cards for eating out. If you don't hold a supporting Ultimate Rewards card, you can potentially get a better return with a card that gives straight cash back on dining like the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, as discussed below.
Related: Chase Freedom Unlimited Review
Best Credit Card for Earning Cash Back on Dining
If cash back on dining is your thing, the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card card is a solid option. That's because the card includes the ability to earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining purchases. If you spend around $300 per month on dining (the national average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics), you'll earn $108 in cash back annually. That's a great return — especially since there's $0 annual fee.
- $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®)
- 1% on all other purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
- $0 annual fee
- 8% cash back on purchases made via the Capital One Entertainment ticketing platform
- 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)
- 3% cash back on dining and entertainment
- 3% at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®)
- 3% on popular streaming services
- 1% on all other purchases
Best Dining Rewards Card for Small Businesses
For small business owners, there isn't much competition. No other card comes close to the earnings the American Express® Business Gold Card offers — with one major caveat.
With the Amex Business Gold, you can earn 4X Membership Rewards points on up to $150,000 at U.S. restaurants. However, to accomplish that, U.S. restaurant purchases need to be one of your business' top two eligible spending categories in every billing cycle. If this matches your business's spending tendencies, then it doesn't get much better than earning 4X on $150k of spending.
- Welcome Offer: 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.*
- 0% Intro APR ¤ for 6 months from the date of account opening on purchases eligible for Pay Over Time, then a 18.49% to 29.24% variable APR.*
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points on the top two eligible categories where your business spends the most each month from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.*
- 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.*
- Get up to a $12.95** statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. **Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.*
- The Business Gold Card comes in three metal designs: Gold, Rose Gold and White Gold. Make your selection when you apply on Americanexpress.com.
- *Terms Apply
- Rates & Fees
- U.S. purchases for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio)
- U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers
- U.S. purchases at gas stations
- U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
- Transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
- Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S.
But if dining isn't one of your organization's top spending categories, you're better off with one of the two no-annual-fee options below:
- The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express: For business owners seeking simple rewards structures, the Blue Business Plus is hard to beat. It offers a flat 2x Membership Rewards points on every purchase (up to the first $50,000 each year, then 1X) with no categories to track. What's more, it doesn't charge an annual fee (Rates & Fees), ensuring your rewards aren't being negated by the cost of holding the card each year.
- Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (Rates & Fees): Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all spending on this card with no annual fee. Plus, if you have a Chase Ultimate Rewards card with an annual fee, you can use your earnings as 1.5X Ultimate Rewards points per $1 spent, opening the door to additional redemption options.
Related: How To Get a Business Credit Card
Best Credit Card for Dining on the First Day of the Month
The Bilt Mastercard® offers 3X Bilt Points on dining every day of the month, on top of 2X on travel, 1X on rent, and 1X on other purchases — so long as you make at least five transactions each billing cycle. Where the rewards really add up is on the first day of the month, thanks to Bilt's Rent Day promotions.
Among rotating offers that can include a free month of rent and transfer bonuses, those with the Bilt Mastercard can earn double points on all purchases other than rent on the first day of each month — up to 1,000 bonus points. That means dining purchases on each month's first day will earn 6X points.
Even better, you can pair this with ongoing 5X via Bilt Dining, which is available even if you don't have the Bilt Mastercard. But combining that 5X earning with 6X earning on Rent Day would yield 11X at restaurants once per month. That's hard to beat on a card with a $0 annual fee (Rates & Fees), provided you stick within the earnings cap.
Stack With a Dining Program for More Earnings
If you’re hunting even higher returns on your dining spend, don’t forget to join the numerous dining rewards programs offered by rewards programs. If you're unfamiliar with these, check out our beginner's guide to dining programs.
For example, say you agree to receive emails from Alaska's Mileage Plan Dining Program and make 12 qualifying transactions in a calendar year. Any subsequent dining purchases earn 5X Mileage Plan miles at the program's over 10,000 participating restaurants. Meanwhile, IHG Dine & Earn offers 8X IHG One Rewards points to frequent diners.
The best part of dining rewards programs is that you don't have to choose between earning credit card rewards or dining program rewards. Dining rewards programs stack these rewards on top of the points you earn when using your credit card for the same purchase!
Even better, new members can take advantage of the dining rewards program welcome bonuses if they haven't already enrolled in these programs.
What Purchases Are Included in the Dining & Restaurant Category?
The merchant category code defines purchases included in the dining category. Consequently, the merchant must code the purchase correctly for you to receive bonus points. When in doubt, we recommend using the AwardWallet Merchant Category Lookup Tool to see how purchases have been coded in the past.
Chase
“…primary business is sit-down or eat-in dining, including fast food restaurants and fine dining establishments.”
“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.”
Citi
“Includes purchases at cafes, bars, lounges and fast food restaurants. Excludes purchases at bakeries, caterers, restaurants located inside another business (such as hotels, stores, stadiums, grocery stores, or warehouse clubs) and third party dining delivery services.”
American Express
“…restaurants located in the U.S.”
Capital One
“Purchases at restaurants, cafes, bars, lounges, fast-food chains and bakeries.”
Final Thoughts
Of all the cards currently open to new applicants, the Amex Gold is our top pick for currently available cards to earn extra rewards on dining. You'll earn 4X Membership Rewards points per dollar at restaurants — including takeout and eligible delivery services in the United States (on up to $50,000 per year, then 1X).
For frequent diners who'd prefer to avoid an annual fee, the Freedom Unlimited provides a stellar return at 3% cash back on dining (or 3X Ultimate Rewards points if you hold a card that can transfer points to partners).
At the end of the day, the best card for you will depend on which rewards you want to earn and how much you spend on dining and takeout. But if you pick a card and use it consistently, you'll be well on your way to building your reward balances.
Best Credit Card For Dining Purchases FAQ
Which dining credit card is best?
The best restaurant rewards card is the American Express® Gold Card. It offers a lucrative earning rate of 4X Membership Rewards points per dollar spent (on up to $50,000 per year, then 1X) at restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
Is it better to use debit or credit cards to buy dinner at a restaurant?
Choosing between a debit or credit card for dinner purchases depends on your goals and habits. Credit cards often provide dining rewards and better fraud protection, plus they may offer additional dining perks. However, they can lead to overspending if you're not careful. Debit cards pull cash directly from your bank account, helping to control spending, but they typically offer fewer rewards and reduced fraud protection. The best dining rewards credit card will provide better returns if you manage finances well and want to earn rewards on dining purchases.
Why do some restaurants not accept American Express cards, even if these cards offer excellent dining rewards?
While American Express cards often provide lucrative rewards for dining, some restaurants refrain from accepting American Express cards due to their traditionally higher transaction fees, which can impact smaller establishments' profits. While the acceptance gap has narrowed considerably in the U.S., Amex still has lower acceptance rates overseas. The decision for a restaurant to accept Amex depends on factors like customer demand, the cost of transactions, and operational convenience.
What is the best cash-back credit card for restaurants?
The best restaurant cash-back credit card depends on your specific needs and spending habits. The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is a strong contender as the best dining card for cash back, offering unlimited 3% cash back on dining and no annual fee. Consider your spending patterns, the card's annual fee, and other benefits or bonuses when choosing the best cash back credit card for restaurants.
Does buying food on a credit card build credit?
Yes, purchasing food on a credit card can help build credit, provided you practice responsible credit behavior. This includes paying your bill on time each month, keeping your credit utilization low, and maintaining a long credit history. Each time you use your credit card and subsequently pay off your balance, it positively impacts your credit history and can improve your credit score. However, using your credit card wisely is essential, avoiding overspending and going into debt, as these can negatively affect your credit score.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: American Express® Gold Card (Rates & Fees), Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees), The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (Rates & Fees), Chase Freedom Unlimited® (Rates & Fees), Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees), American Express® Business Gold Card (Rates & Fees), and Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Thank you for the suggestions. To your list I would add the no annual fee BILT Rewards card, with its 3X points on dining, plus an additional 1X-10X on dines at BILT Dining participating restaurants. The other cards on your list can be added to a BILT Dining account, so that BILT rewards are earned even when a card other than BILT Rewards is used for a dine at participating restaurants. Also, BILT dining is completely independent of the airline and hotel dining Rewards Network programs, so you can enroll a credit card in both BILT Dining and an airline or hotel dining rewards program simultaneously. So far, though, it seems that BILT Dining participating restaurants are usually different restaurants from Rewards Network restaurants, so the points stacking opportunity goes only so far.
Stephen, great point on this. I’ve added a section about the Bilt Mastercard to the article.
Thank you for these suggestions, to which I would add the new Citi Custom Cash card, which is free, and provides 5% back on the first $500 spend every month (or rather statement period).
I would add to this list the new Citi Custom Cash card, which is free, and gives you 5% rewards on up to $500 spending per month in whatever category you use most –which includes Restaurants.
Great point! Thank you.
I am going to miss the Pay Yourself Back for dining with the Sapphire Reserve. That has made this card my first choice for dining. At the end of this month I guess I’ll go back to using my Amex Gold card as my top choice for dining.
Rumored to be extended until the end of the year. Keep an eye on your email, etc for confirmation.
hmmmm… several FREE cards with 4x / 4% cash back are ignored…. in favor of a 3x card….
This screams of a lack of objectivity driven by who is paying the site money…..
My reading? The Savor card is a MUCH better deal at $95 a year and 4x than the Amex….(and i have neither so not biased).
Don’t forget the 5% Discover Rewards in certain quarters! The best returns for dining occur when one stacks their favorite dining rewards card with offers (e.g., Amex Offers or Chase Offers) and dining club programs.
I repeatedly stack offers with bonus categories and coupons. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a $5 off coupon on top of a 10% off offer to Panera.
The main issue with the discover card is the lack of acceptance in many many restaurants, but I’d like to use it when accepted.
Capital One Savor actually counts bakeries as dining. I don’t know any other cards which include bakeries with the dining category.
Great suggestions! Hope that the pandemic ends soon so we can get back to restaurants.
It is fantastic to be able to collect miles like this, when I lived in NY it was very easy to get miles, now in South America there are no really convenient programs.
I really like the resere card. Remember that Amex simplycash can be set to 3% cashback on restaurants. Thanks!
Considering annual fee, Chase Freedom Flex is my best choice!
While the Prestige gives 5x on dining, the hefty annual fee combined with the reduction in benefits really make it a very limited proposition. I have had a prestige for the past few years but am planning to downgrade coz the AmEx gold at 4x gives me a fairly close earning rate with a much better value proposition.
Might switch to AMEX Blue after reading this. My prestige AF is due in November and can’t justify the AF anymore. It lost it’s luster and now just taking up a space. I cashed out my TYP, so likely will just go to a straight cash back card like the DC
I have both the CSR and Amex Gold, and I prefer to use the Gold card for dining because I can cash out at a higher rate of 5 cents per dollar when combined with the Amex Schwab Platinum.
@Robert – Agreed on the preference for 3x UR over 5x TY.
Also, while it was nice that Chase bumped up the dining bonus to 3x on the Freedom Unlimited (and of course introduced the Freedom Flex), I would really have liked to see Chase simultaneously bump the CSR to 4x on dining to keep that card at the premium level in all categories. Being able to earn 3x UR with a no-AF card is unfortunately also a stealth devaluation of the CSR.
The Amex gold has always been been my favorite card for dining but it has now been supplanted by the CSR. Dining is one of the only categories that earn multiple points per dollar that also qualify for pay-yourself-back. That gives the most value for my situation.
I like cards with the most flexibility for redemption so my pick is AMEX but that’s mostly because I’m limited in which cards I can have. I can either use the points as is or convert then to whatever airline miles makes the most sense at the time.
I appreciate the multiplier points that they sometimes offer as well.
I like to stick in the chase ecosystem with the sapphire reserve but would love them to up the points to compete with some of the other brands
As much as I like earning 5x with the Prestige, my card of choice will often be the CSR.
There is an opportunity for STACKING to earn an additional 5-10¢ per $ cash back on top of the 5-3x.
DOSH will often pay out 5% This can be used with any registered card. The other stack is VISA local offers. This too has up to 5% cash back automatically added to your Uber account.
After hanging on to the CSR since it first launched I’m finally looking at dropping it this year if they won’t waive the annual fee – without being able to utilize any of the travel benefits it just doesn’t make sense to pay at this point.
Until the CSP and CSR are updated, the Freedom cards are the way to go. For me, 3 UR points is preferable to 5 TY points.
The Sapphire Reserve is hard to beat! Go for it!
Uber card and Capital one savor both look quite nice and useful. Will have to check them out.
Don’t forget double points on the Marriott card. Not the greatest unless you are trying to accumulate for a reward or towards your lifetime status. With either of those goals, the double points can be quite helpful.
Don’t forget 1 SPG point = 3 Marriott Rewards. https://awardwallet.com/blog/everything-about-the-marriott-rewards-program/
Also for those looking to earn hotel points, honorable mention should go to the 7x HH points that the AmEx Hilton Reserve card earns.
At certain airports the merchant shows up as the airport itself.
CSR is definitely top card for dinning.
Chase Sapphire is always on the top.
Interesting that Amex doesn’t classify purchases inside nightclubs as restaurants and that Barclay does.
I do constantly see that the Chase Sapphire Reserved is at the top of many lists as a great card. That is why I have the preferred one, just cannot do the higher AF. But I did just get the freedom unlimited and now I think I’ll be able to show my husband why we got all the cards by almost being able to pay nothing for a trip to see my family this Nov.
I don’t know if I ever would have thought about stacking the cards and then transferring it all to my sapphire or even would have looked at the sapphire because of the AF, if I hadn’t had explanations here of the benefit. Sometimes it can take a really long time to earn miles and then use them. Now it’s not as long since I’m able to earn UR faster than airline miles directly. That dream to take my hubby in first to syd just got a little better now that United will go iah to syd! Yeay! Now I just have to build up UR points and transfer.
I’m still considering the switch to the Sapphire Reserve but the fee for authorized users is also a hurdle. It’s free for the Sapphire Preferred and I have two authored users. Any data points on whether they ever waive the authored user fee for the Reserve?
That is a valid concern — it definitely gets expensive quickly. I’ve never heard of those fees being waived — Chase has to pay for the benefits provided on those cards, otherwise, they’d simply lose money.
Know I eat out but doubt I get anywhere near the 30% statistic level. I was surprised it was that high but I guess those of you who travel frequently may pull those statistics up some. Great benefit to capitalize on dining out with credit card usage.
Going to look into the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, thanks for the heads up, looks good for my use
Amex simplycash can be set to 3% cashback on restaurants.
Excellent point.
For Costco members, I find the Citi Costco CC really valuable. Yes you have to wait for the yearly statement to get your reward certificate, which you can redeem at any Costco for cash, but with 4% back on Gas, 3% on dining, 3% on travel its hard to beat. Plus no annual fees as long as you’re a Costco member (any level).
Costco is great for a ton of reasons — the credit card is definitely one for the list. I just wish I had one within 100 miles of where I live 🙁
This is a great analysis of how to obtain the highest value for your dining dollar! Thanks!
For a no-fee card, the Uber Visa’s 4% cash back on dining is outstanding
Thats a good advice!
CSR moved to the front of my wallet almost as soon as I activated it. When dining out I use it w/o hesitation.
Pretty hard to beat this card.
While it’s not 4.5% when redeemed for travel through Chase’s site, like the Chase Sapphire Rewards card, the Bank of America Premium Rewards card is worth mentioning. If you have $100,000 with Bank of America, including Merrill Lynch (move a $100,000 IRA balance to Merrill Edge, Bank Of America’s discount brokerage, and the 2% on dining and travel is increased by 75% to 3,5%, redeemable for cash (your $100,000 balance lets you maintain a free Bank Of America checking account with a free safe deposit box also). The $99 annual fee gives you a $100 annual airline incidentals cfedit, a TSA Precheck of Global Entry fee rebate, and 1.5%, increased to 2.625% rebate on all other purchases with the $100,000 balance.
The Bank of America program is an excellent one. The $100k requirement is a roadblock for many which is why we don’t cover it more.
That’s true. I figured the idea of moving a $100,000 IRA to Merrill Edge, their discount (cheap-no commission) brokerage may be easier for some people, although that, obviously, is only for people with a $100,000 IRA to move. I should have added that Merrill Edge has a promotion offering at least $200 depending on how much you move, You also get a lower percentage boost to the credit card cash back with lower balances.
Chase Sapphire Reserve seems to come out on top on a lot of your articles. Wonder if that’s advertiser bias or just the cold hard facts. I’m thinking the latter.
If this card didn’t have a permanent slot in our wallets it wouldn’t be on the list. At 3x earning for travel + dining and all of the other card perks, it is difficult to NOT include this card in such a list!
Thanks! I love using Rewards Network for dining and easily made VIP with 12 dines last year.
CSR is obviously the best. Just depends if you can make up the remainder of the value ($150 after travel credit) in dining and other benefits.
Haha! We must go out to eat too much, because that’s never an issue for us!
The CSR is my hands-down favorite card for dining, not only because of its everyday earnings of 4.5x when I redeem UR points through Chase Travel but also because of its frequent lucrative offers to earn additional points on restaurants.
The Reserve Card is my favorite