Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us and terms apply to offers listed (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate credit cards to write unbiased product reviews.
The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card†, Chase Freedom Flex℠, U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card, Citi Premier® Card, Citi Custom Cash℠ Card, U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card, U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa® Secured Card, U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa® Secured Card. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.
Introduction to Dining Credit Cards
Whether you dine in or order takeout, savvy foodies can earn extra points, miles, or cash back by using one of the best credit cards for bonus rewards for dining.
Here are some of the best restaurant cards for dine-in, takeout, and delivery.
Compare the Top Dining Credit Cards
Best for dining and travel
Regular APR
21.49% – 28.49% Variable
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.High intro bonus offer starts you off with lots of points
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Strong travel coverage
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Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.Doesn’t offer a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit
Product Details
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
- 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.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
- Member FDIC
Regular APR
20.24% – 28.24% Variable
Recommended Credit
Excellent
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.High cash-back rate for dining and entertainment
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.No foreign transaction fees
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con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.Many other cash-back cards don’t charge an annual fee (but at least this one’s waived for the first year)
Best for dining and flat-rate rewards
Intro APR
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months
Regular APR
20.49% – 29.24% Variable
Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Solid flat cash-back rate
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.You can combine cash-back rewards with Ultimate Rewards points if you have an eligible card
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.No annual fee
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Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.Some other cards offer a higher rate of cash back on certain types of purchases
Product Details
- Intro Offer: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) – worth up to $300 cash back!
- Enjoy 6.5% 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; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
- After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back 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 20.49% – 29.24%.
- 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
Best dining card for foodies
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Great rewards for dining and for shopping at US supermarkets
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Monthly statement credit for eligible dining purchases recoups some of the annual fee
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Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.Underwhelming welcome bonus
Product Details
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and 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, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
- Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
- Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms Apply.
Regular APR
22.49% – 29.49% Variable
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Annual travel credit can effectively shave $300 off the annual fee if you use it
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Strong travel insurance
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Strong bonus rewards on travel and dining
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con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.Very high annual fee
Product Details
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- 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
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
- Member FDIC
Best for dining and rotating bonus categories
Intro APR
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months
Regular APR
20.49% – 29.24% Variable
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.No annual fee
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Generous bonus cash-back categories
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Great welcome bonus
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con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.Booking through Chase Ultimate Rewards portal can restrict outside earning potential
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Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.Varying percentages and rotating calendar categories require extra attention
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Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.3% foreign transaction fees
Best uncapped rewards rate with no annual fee
Intro APR
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 billing cycles
Regular APR
18.24% – 29.24% Variable
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Great earning rate on dining (4x points = 4% back)
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Good welcome bonus for a no-annual-fee card
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Annual streaming credit
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con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.No airline or hotel transfer partners
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Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.Few benefits compared to other rewards credit cards
Best for restaurants and other bonus categories
Regular APR
21.24% – 29.24% Variable
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® points
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Strong bonus
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Generous bonus categories
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con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.Doesn’t offer much in the way of statement credits or other perks
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con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.Citi ThankYou Rewards may not be as convenient as other points for US-based travelers
Insider’s Take
If you’re looking for an all-purpose travel credit card with strong rewards, many ways to use your points, and an annual fee under $100, the Citi Premier should be on your shortlist. Beyond the welcome bonus offer, the Citi Premier® Card offers great 3x earning categories that just about anyone can take advantage of — and the rewards it earns are incredibly flexible.
Citi Premier Card
Best for automatically maximizing rewards
Intro APR
0% intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months
Regular APR
19.24% – 29.24% Variable
Earn $200 cash back (fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points)
Recommended Credit
Excellent, Good, Fair
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Flexibility to customize rewards by earning 5% cash back on up to $500 per billing cycle in your top spending category (from a list)
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Generous welcome offer for a no-annual-fee card
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.No rotating bonus categories to sign up for or track
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Redeem for cash back, travel, gift cards, and more
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con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.Only earns 1% back outside of $500 in top spending category each billing cycle
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con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.Foreign transaction fee of 3%
Intro APR
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles
Regular APR
19.74% – 29.74% Variable
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
-
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Generous cash-back earning and welcome bonus for a no-annual-fee card
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Ability to choose the best 5% and 2% cash-back categories for you
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Introductory APR offer on purchases and balance transfers
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con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.5% cash-back category is capped at $2,000 in purchases per quarter
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con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.Foreign transaction fees
Regular APR
19.99% – 29.99% Variable
Recommended Credit
Average, Fair, Limited
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Good welcome bonus with an easy spending requirement
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Strong 3% cash back earning in popular everyday spending categories for students like dining, entertainment, eligible streaming services, and grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®)
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
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con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.Only available to college students
Product Details
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), with 1% on all other purchases
- Early Spend Bonus: Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months
- Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Enjoy no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- Earn up to $500 a year by referring friends and family when they’re approved for a Capital One credit card
- Earn 8% cash back on entertainment purchases when you book through the Capital One Entertainment portal
- Build your credit with responsible card use
- Whether you’re at a 4-year university, community college or other higher education institution, this card might be an option for you
Best for lower credit scores or building credit
Regular APR
29.24% Variable
Recommended Credit
New/Rebuilding
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Great earning rates on dining, gas, streaming, and groceries
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Build credit with responsible use over time and you may be able to automatically graduate to a non-secured card
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Annual streaming credit
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con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.Requires a security deposit ($300 minimum)
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Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.No welcome bonus
Product Details
- The information related to the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa® Secured Card has been collected by Business Insider and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
- Earn 4X points on dining, takeout and restaurant delivery
- Earn 2X points at grocery stores, grocery delivery, streaming services, gas stations and EV charging stations
- Earn 1X point on all other eligible purchases
- Earn $15 streaming credit for annual streaming service purchases like Netflix and Spotify®
Best for bonus dining dates and locations
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Only credit card to offer rent payments to any landlord
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Excellent range of airline and hotel transfer partners through the Bilt App
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Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.World Elite Mastercard benefits and no annual fee
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con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.If you’re not a renter, other cards offer better welcome bonuses and rewards
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con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.Must make 5 transactions per statement period to earn points
Insider’s Take
The Bilt Mastercard® is the first credit card to offer up to 100,000 points in a calendar year rewards for paying rent without the transaction fee — and you can redeem your points for travel, merchandise, and more. While it now offers bonus points on dining and select travel, if you’re not a renter, you should consider other no-annual-fee rewards credit cards as well.
Bilt Mastercard®
Product Details
- $0 Annual Fee.
- Earn up to 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year.
- 2x points on travel.
- 3x points on dining.
- 1x points on other purchases.
- Earn points when you make 5 transactions that post each statement period.
- When renting at a Bilt Alliance property, you can choose to have your rent payments automatically reported by Bilt to the three major credit bureaus each month; Experian™, TransUnion™, and Equifax™.
Best Dining Credit Cards of May 2024
Dining Credit Card Reviews
The best cards for dining out offer generous rewards on food and drinks. When choosing a dining credit card, make sure you’re earning more than 1% back on anything you spend in a restaurant, bar, or similar establishment. You should also be able to earn additional rewards in other categories.
The following reviews highlight our top choices for good dining credit cards in 2024, according to Business Insider’s team of credit card experts.
Best for Dining and Travel: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
If you want to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points but you don’t want to pay the hefty annual fee for the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a great alternative. It also offers a free year of DashPass membership with DoorDash, extended through December 31, 2024, and it earns 3x points on dining.
Right now, it’s offering a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Your points are worth 1.25 cents apiece when you use them to book travel through the Chase portal or you can transfer them to airline and hotel partners to potentially get even more value.
With an annual fee of $95, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a good choice if you want solid dining and travel perks without breaking the bank.
Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred Card review.
Best Cash Back Rate: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card†
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card† is a great pick for maximizing your restaurant spending if you prefer earning cash back to travel rewards. You’ll earn 4% back on all dining purchases, entertainment, and eligible streaming services, 3% back on groceries, and 1% back on everything else with no caps.
It’s currently got a solid welcome offer: $300 cash bonus once you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
There’s a $95 annual fee. If you prefer not to pay an annual fee card, the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is also worth a look. You will get 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases, as well as 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through November 14, 2024.
You’ll get a slightly lower rate of return on dining, select streaming, and entertainment — 3% instead of 4% — in exchange for not paying an annual fee. And you’ll still earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through the Capital One Travel Portal, 3% back on groceries (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target), and 1% back on everything else.
Read our Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Card review.
Best for Dining and Flat Rate Rewards With No Annual Fee: Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Similar to Chase Freedom Flex℠, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is also framed as a cash-back card, but it earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points. With this card, you can earn Earn 5% cash back on Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases..
If you don’t want to worry about rotating categories, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers a simpler rewards structure. Outside of restaurants and drugstores (3% back) and Chase Travel purchases (5% back), you’ll earn 1.5% back on all purchases (1.5x points) with no caps.
Here’s our comparison of the Chase Freedom Flex versus Chase Freedom Unlimited credit cards, to help you decide which one is better for you.
Read our Chase Freedom Unlimited review.
Best for Foodies: American Express® Gold Card
The American Express® Gold Card is an excellent choice whether you like dining out or prefer eating at home. Along with a welcome bonus offer of 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on purchases on the card in the first six months of card membership, you’ll earn:
- 4x points at restaurants and on up to $25,000 in spending per calendar year at US supermarkets (then 1x)
- 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel
- 1 point per dollar on most other purchases
The American Express® Gold Card has a $250 annual fee, but two benefits can help you offset most of the yearly cost. You’ll receive up to $120 per calendar year (up to $10 per month) in Uber Cash credits you can use toward eligible US Uber rides or Uber Eats purchases (the Gold Card needs to be added to the Uber app to receive the Uber Cash benefit)**.
In addition, cardholders get up to $120 in annual dining credits** (up to $10 per month) with participating food delivery services and restaurants. These include purchases with Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Milk Bar, Wine.com, Goldbelly, and participating Shake Shack locations.
The Amex Membership Rewards points you earn with the card are incredibly flexible, too. You can redeem them for travel through the American Express Travel portal, transfer them to airline and hotel partners, or trade them in for gift cards, cash back, merchandise, and more.
Read our Amex Gold Card review.
Best Premium Card for Dining: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a no-brainer for adventurous travelers who value strong trip insurance benefits. And for those who travel light with a single credit card, this card does double duty as a fantastic card for foodies on the go, earning 3 points per dollar on dining purchases.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® also earns 5x total Chase Ultimate Rewards® points on air travel and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards (after earning the $300 travel credit). New cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
The card offers a complimentary DashPass membership, which waives delivery fees and offers lower service fees on orders of $12 or more. Cardholders also receive $5 per month in DoorDash in-app credits (through December 31, 2024).
While the Chase Sapphire Reserve® charges a $550 annual fee, it comes with premium benefits and rewards that can be well worth it if you take advantage of them. Cardholders receive $300 in credits toward eligible travel purchases made with their card each account anniversary year. You’ll also get a complimentary Priority Pass airport lounge membership, a complimentary two-year Lyft Pink All Access membership, and excellent travel and shopping protections.
With the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you’ll earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points which you can transfer to airline and hotel partners, such as United Airlines, Hyatt, and Air Canada Aeroplan. When you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, your points are worth 1.5 cents each (50% more) when you use them to book travel through the Chase Travel Portal℠.
Read our Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card review.
Best for Dining and Rotating Bonus Categories: Chase Freedom Flex℠
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is marketed as a cash-back card, but it earns rewards in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ comes with a welcome bonus offer of $200 cash bonus (received as 20,000 bonus points) after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. It earns bonus rewards in a variety of categories, including dining. You’ll earn 3% back (3x Chase Ultimate Rewards points) at restaurants and drugstores, and 5% cash back (5x points) on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
With the Chase Freedom Flex℠, you can earn 5% cash back (5x points) on up to $1,500 in combined spending in categories that rotate every quarter (then 1x) when you activate the bonus. From April 1 to June 30, the Chase Freedom quarterly bonus categories are Amazon, hotels and restaurants.
Read our Chase Freedom Flex Credit Card review.
Best Uncapped Rewards Rate With No Annual Fee: U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
If you’re looking for a no-annual-fee card that earns big rewards on dining without worrying about spending caps, the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card is a very compelling choice. New cardholders can earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days of account opening — worth $200 in cash back, travel, or gift cards.
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card earns an uncapped 4x points (4% back) on dining, including takeout and delivery, 2x points (2% back) at grocery stores including grocery delivery, gas stations, and on streaming services, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. It also offers a $15 annual streaming bonus for eligible services like Netflix, Apple TV+, Spotify, and more.
Read our U.S. Bank Altitude Go Card review.
Best for Restaurants and Other Bonus Categories: Citi Premier® Card
The Citi Premier® Card flies under the radar as a credit card for restaurant spending, but if you’re looking for an all-purpose card that earns bonus rewards in lots of categories — including dining — it’s an excellent pick. Even better, the card is currently offering a bonus of 60,000 bonus ThankYou® points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening.
With the Citi Premier® Card, you’ll earn 3x points at restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, hotels, and on airfare, and 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases. Citi ThankYou points don’t always get as much attention as other rewards currencies, but they’re incredibly versatile — you can transfer them to airline partners, use them to book travel through the Citi ThankYou portal, or redeem them for gift cards, cash back, merchandise, and more.
Read our Citi Premier Card review.
Best for Automatically Maximizing Rewards: Citi Custom Cash℠ Card
The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card is unique in that cardholders earn 5% cash back on up to $500 in purchases in the eligible category they spend the most in each billing cycle (then 1%), and 1% on all other purchases.
Restaurants are one of the eligible categories — along with gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment. If dining out and ordering in are big expenses for you, using the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card for your purchases could earn you up to $25 in bonus cash back per month ($500 x 5% back).
The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card is also offering a welcome bonus of $200 cash back, fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening. For a card with a $0 annual fee, this is a good deal. Just remember it only earns 1% back outside of your highest spending category each month, so other cards — like the Citi Premier® Card — may be a better fit if you want to earn more rewards in multiple categories.
Read our Citi Custom Cash Card review.
Best for Fast Food: U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card
Whether you’re a road warrior who grabs quick meals on the go or a family that hits the drive-thru on busy school nights, the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card could be your best choice for earning generous rewards on fast food.
It’s unique in that cardholders can earn 5% cash back on two eligible categories (from a list) of their choice, on up to $2,000 in combined purchases each quarter (then 1% back). The list includes fast food, plus prepaid air travel, hotel stays, and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Center online portal, home utilities, TV, internet, and streaming services, department stores, electronic stores, cell phone providers, sporting goods stores, furniture stores, movie theaters, gyms and fitness centers, ground transportation, and select clothing stores.
You’ll also get to choose a 2% cash back “everyday” category from restaurants, gas and EV charging stations, or grocery stores, and earn 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
This no-annual-fee card comes with a good welcome bonus offer: $200 bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening. After account opening, you’ll also qualify for a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles (then a 19.74% – 29.74% Variable APR).
Read our U.S. Bank Cash Plus Card review.
Best for Students: Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
The new Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is a great choice if you’re new to credit and looking for a cash-back card that earns bonus rewards in popular categories. Student credit cards are often easier to get approved for if you don’t have a credit score.
Cardholders earn 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, eligible streaming services, and grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target), and 1% back on everything else.
The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card comes with a decent range of benefits, including price protection***, extended warranty***, car rental coverage***, and complimentary concierge services. As with other Capital One cards, you’ll automatically be considered for a higher credit line in as little as six months from account opening.
Read our Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Student Credit Card review.
Best for Lower Credit Scores or Building Credit: U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa® Secured Card
If you’re brand new to credit or rebuilding your credit, opening one of the best secured credit cards like the no-annual-fee U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa® Secured Card
can help you improve your credit score when you use it responsibly. And unlike most credit cards for bad credit, this card earns generous rewards, particularly on dining out.
The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa® Secured Card earns rewards at the following rates:
- 4x points on dining (including takeout and delivery)
- 2x points at grocery stores (including grocery delivery), gas stations (including EV charging), and on streaming services
- 1 point per dollar on all other purchases
Cardholders also get the same $15 annual bonus for eligible streaming services that non-secured U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card cardholders receive.
The primary difference between the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card and its non-secured counterpart — the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card — is that you’ll have to put down a security deposit of $300 to $5,000 to get the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa® Secured Card, which becomes the amount of your credit limit. This card also doesn’t offer a welcome bonus, which is common with secured credit cards. But after you show a history of responsible use, you may be able to “graduate” to the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card, and have your security deposit returned down the road.
Read our U.S. Bank Altitude Go Secured Credit Card review.
Best for Bonus Dining Days and Locations: Bilt Mastercard®
The Bilt Mastercard® is the newest addition to this guide for best dining credit cards, but it richly deserves the accolade. The Bilt Mastercard® is best known as the only credit card that allows renters to pay rent each month without incurring a transaction fee. But this card also offers fantastic dining benefits: Cardholders earn 3x per dollar on all dining purchases, which doubles to 6x per dollar on Bilt Rent Day, which falls on the first of every month.
Business Insider values Bilt Rewards points at up to 2.1 cents apiece, which means you could earn up to 12.6% back on a Bilt Rent Day meal out.
Bilt separately offers the Bilt Dining program, which allows diners to link any credit or debit card to the issuer’s dining network to earn 5 points per dollar spent at participating restaurants. Thus, you can earn a total of 8x points per dollar on most days or 11x points per dollar on Bilt Rent Day if you link your Bilt credit card to the Bilt Dining program for stacked rewards.
Furthermore, Bilt regularly offers elevated promotion periods for cardholders who pay for dining expenses with the Bilt Mastercard®. A recent Bilt Rent Day bonus offered up to 16 points per dollar at select restaurants, worth a whopping 33.6% in bonus value.
However, the Bilt Mastercard® comes with one important catch: Cardholders must make five transactions per billing statement period across any category of spend in order to earn Bilt Rewards. If you’re a renter, for example, you’ll only need to pay rent each month with this card and then complete four more purchases in order to earn points on every dollar charged to the Bilt Mastercard®.
Read our Bilt Mastercard review.
Dining Credit Card Bonus Categories
Each card issuer has a slightly different definition of dining or restaurants, but generally speaking, dining credit cards will earn bonus rewards in that category at sit-down restaurants and fast-food joints, and possibly cafés, bars, lounges, or food delivery services.
Whether or not an establishment triggers a credit card dining bonus depends on the merchant category code (MCC) the vendor uses and the specific rules for the card issuer. Here’s what the major banks included in this guide consider dining:
- American Express: Sit-down restaurants, fast-food restaurants, and some delivery services (like Grubhub and Uber Eats). What doesn’t count: Bars, nightclubs, convenience stores, supermarkets, grocery stores, cafeterias, caterers, theatre clubs, breweries, bakeries, meeting venues, and restaurants inside another establishment (like a hotel)
- Capital One: Restaurants, cafés, bars, lounges, fast-food chains, bakeries. What doesn’t count: Outlets such as food trucks or food carts that may use a “merchandise” code, restaurants in department stores or hotels
- Chase: Sit-down restaurants, fast-food restaurants, delivery services (if they classify as a restaurant merchant). What doesn’t count: Merchants that sell food and drinks located within facilities such as sports stadiums, hotels and casinos, theme parks, grocery, and department stores, bakeries, caterers, and gift card merchants
- Citi: Restaurants (including cafes, bars, lounges, and fast-food restaurants). What doesn’t count: Bakeries, caterers, and restaurants located inside other establishments (like hotels, department stores, grocery stores, discount and convenience stores, or warehouse clubs)
- U.S. Bank: Restaurant, fast-food restaurants, or bars. What doesn’t count: On the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card, fast-food restaurants are a separate category from dining (which doesn’t include fast food)
- Bilt: Restaurants, bars, bakeries, and fast-food restaurants. What doesn’t count: Caterers, grocery stores, and other miscellaneous places that serve food or operate restaurants on their premises. Bilt cardholders also need to make five transactions per statement period across any category of spend in order to earn Bilt Rewards.
How to Earn More Credit Card Rewards on Restaurant Dining
Even if you’re already using a credit card that earns bonus cash back or points at restaurants, it’s possible to stack your earnings by registering your card with an airline or hotel dining program. These platforms award you bonus rewards when you use your card at a participating restaurant, and they’re free to join.
Powered by Rewards Network, here are some of the more popular options:
Some programs earn bonus cash back and other rewards; you can find the full list of Rewards Network dining programs here.
How to Choose the Best Dining Credit Card
The best rewards credit card for your restaurant spending depends on the types of rewards you like to earn and if you’ll use the card for other purchases. Some cards offer a high earning rate on dining but might not be a good fit for your other spending, while others come with a decent rate of return at restaurants and additional everyday spending categories.
If you’re planning to apply for a new credit card to use on restaurant spending, you should also consider the welcome bonus offer — some cards currently come with record-high offers — as well as the annual fee, benefits, and redemption options.
Dining Credit Card Frequently Asked Questions
In terms of cash back, you’ll find the highest earn rate on the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card (5% back, if restaurants is your biggest spending category that billing cycle) and U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card (5% back, when you choose fast food as one of your 5% categories).
If you don’t want to fuss with choosing categories or worrying about your highest spend category, the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card† (4% back on dining) and U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa® Secured Card (4x points on dining, effectively 4% back) are the next best picks.
For earning flexible points you can redeem for travel, it’s hard to beat the American Express® Gold Card (4x points).
Yes, fast-food restaurants usually count as dining, but it could depend on the card. In most cases, fast-food restaurants and chains are eligible dining establishments for earning bonus rewards. Starbucks, for example, classifies itself as being in the restaurant category and will usually code as a dining purchase on your credit card. But you should still check what your specific card classifies as eligible dining purchases, just in case terms vary.
The closest thing to an all-around food credit card that earns bonus rewards on dining and groceries is the American Express® Gold Card, if you prefer earning flexible points. For cash back, you can’t go wrong with the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card†. Both of these cards are on this list!
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Chose the Best Credit Cards for Dining
Business Insider’s guides and reviews aren’t influenced by money in any way. Our credit cards team will tell you when a card is a good deal — and we will tell you when it’s a rotten deal.
To come up with our list of the best dining credit cards, we looked at cards that offer bonus rewards on dining and other dining-specific benefits like monthly statement credits to offset restaurant or food delivery purchases. We prioritized the cards that offer the strongest return on dining purchases, while also considering each card’s overall value by evaluating the annual fee, other rewards, and other benefits.
Read our post on how we rate credit cards for more information.
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