When dining out, using a credit card tailored for restaurant spending can turn every meal into an opportunity to earn significant rewards. Many credit cards offer bonus points, cash back, or travel rewards for purchases made at restaurants, ranging from fine dining to fast food. Selecting the best credit card for restaurants involves comparing these benefits to find which card aligns with your dining habits and reward preferences.
Best Overall for Restaurants: American Express® Gold Card (review).
Best Business Card for Restaurants: American Express® Business Gold Card (review).
Best No Annual Fee for Restaurants: Bilt Mastercard® (review).
1. American Express® Gold Card
Best Overall for Restaurants
The American Express® Gold Card (review) is a great card for earning points at restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and flights booked directly with airlines. Cardholders can also enjoy up to $424 in annual credits and nice travel and purchase protections. Earning Points: 4x points at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year (then 1x points); 4x points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year (then 1x points); 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com; 2x points on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com; 1x points on all other eligible purchases. Benefits: Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, AeroMexico, Air Canada Aeroplan, ANA, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Choice Privileges, Delta, Emirates, Etihad, Air France – KLM Flying Blue, Hawaiian Airlines, Hilton, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore KrisFlyer, and Virgin Atlantic.
2. American Express® Business Gold Card
Best Business Card for Restaurants
The American Express® Gold Card (review) is a great card for earning points at restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and flights booked directly with airlines. Cardholders can also enjoy up to $424 in annual credits and nice travel and purchase protections. Earning Points: 4x points at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year (then 1x points); 4x points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year (then 1x points); 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com; 2x points on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com; 1x points on all other eligible purchases. Benefits: Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, AeroMexico, Air Canada Aeroplan, ANA, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Choice Privileges, Delta, Emirates, Etihad, Air France – KLM Flying Blue, Hawaiian Airlines, Hilton, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore KrisFlyer, and Virgin Atlantic.
3. Bilt Mastercard®
Best No Annual Fee for Dining
The Bilt Mastercard® (review) lets you earn valuable travel rewards on rent payments without fees while offering bonus points on dining and travel purchases. This no-annual-fee card stands out for its unique rent payment feature and strong travel benefits like rental car coverage and trip protection. Earning Rewards: 5x points on Lyft; 3x points on dining; 2x points on travel purchases; 1x points on rent payments without any transaction fees up to 100,000 points per year, and 1x points on everything else. (Five transactions are required per billing cycle to earn points.) Card Benefits: No transaction fees to pay rent and earn 1x points, primary rental car insurance, cell phone protection, trip delay and trip cancellation insurance, purchase protection, and no foreign transaction fees.
4. Citi Custom Cash℠ Card
Best for Cash Back
The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card offers a unique rewards structure that automatically earns 5x points in your highest spending category each billing cycle, up to $500 in purchases. You’ll maximize your rewards with this flexible no-annual-fee card that adapts to your spending habits across ten useful bonus categories including restaurants, travel, groceries, and gas stations. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earn Rewards: 5% cash back for your top category each billing cycle up to $500 in the following categories: restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel (airlines, hotels, cruise lines and travel agencies), select transit (car rentals, parking, EV charging, tolls, etc.), select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment.; 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases. Card Benefits: Access to Citi Entertainment, contactless payment, a free check of your FICO credit score, and 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfer, after that, a reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR applies.
5. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Best for Chase Ultimate Rewards
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (review) is one of the most popular travel rewards cards because it offers nice welcome bonus and extra points on travel and dining, which can be transferred to airline and hotel partners or redeemed directly for travel at a rate of 1.25 cents per point through Chase Travel℠. The Sapphire Preferred also offers great travel and purchase protections for a card with a $95 annual fee. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earning Rewards: 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3x points on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2x points on all other travel purchases, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. Card Benefits: Ability to transfer to airline and hotel partners, 25% bonus when redeeming points through Chase Travel, $50 annual hotel stay credit via Chase Travel, 10% anniversary points bonus, no foreign transaction fees, primary rental car insurance, trip delay insurance, trip cancellation insurance, baggage delay insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty. Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, Emirates, Air France KLM Flying Blue, Hyatt, IHG, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Singapore KrisFlyer, Southwest, United, and Virgin Atlantic.
6. Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Best Chase No Annual Fee Card
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® (review) sets itself apart with 1.5% back on non-bonus purchases, plus higher rewards in select categories including dining and travel. This flexible rewards card becomes even more valuable when paired with a premium Chase card, allowing you to transfer your rewards to travel partners. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earning Cash Back: 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3% back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services; 3% back on drugstore purchases; 1.5% back on all other purchases CaBenefits: Purchase protection, extended warranty, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, secondary rental car insurance, and 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, after that reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR applies; 
7. Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Best Premium Card for Restaurants
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® (review) offers premium travel benefits including lounge access, hotel elite status, and multiple statement credits that can offset its $795 annual fee. With bonus earnings on travel and dining purchases plus the ability to transfer points to 14 airline and hotel partners, this card delivers strong value for frequent travelers who can maximize its benefits. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earning Rewards: 10x points on Hotels (excluding The Edit) and car rentals and 5x points on flights through Chase Travel after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually; 10x points on Chase Dining purchases with Ultimate Rewards; 3x points on dining at restaurants, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out; 3x points on other travel after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually; 1x points on other eligible spending. Card Benefits: $300 annual travel credit, Priority Pass airport lounge membership with unlimited visits, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS application fee credit of up to $120 every four years, no foreign transaction fees, travel insurance (primary rental car, trip delay, trip cancellation, travel accident, lost luggage, and baggage delay), purchase protection, return protection, and extended warranty. Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, Emirates, Air France KLM Flying Blue, Hyatt, IHG, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Singapore KrisFlyer, Southwest, United, and Virgin Atlantic.
8. American Express® Green Card
Best for Earning Points on Both Travel and Dining
The American Express® Green Card (review) offers generous 3x points on travel and dining, plus vannual credits for CLEAR and LoungeBuddy. This versatile mid-tier card is ideal for frequent travelers who want to maximize rewards on everyday spending categories.
(All information about the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by Deals Points and has not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.) Welcome Bonus: Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 within the first 6 months. Earning Points: 3x points on restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the US), travel (including flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises, etc.), and transit (including tolls, parking, and rideshare); 1x points on all other eligible purchases. Card Benefits: Annual $199 CLEAR Plus Credit, annual $100 LoungeBuddy credit, no preset spending limit, trip delay insurance, baggage insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty. Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, AeroMexico, Air Canada Aeroplan, ANA, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Choice Privileges, Delta, Emirates, Etihad, Air France – KLM Flying Blue, Hawaiian Airlines, Hilton, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore KrisFlyer, and Virgin Atlantic.
9. Citi Strata Premier® Card
Best for Citi ThankYou Points
The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card stands out for its impressive 3x points earning on everyday purchases including restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and travel. While its redemption options might not match competitors like Chase or Amex, you’ll still get solid value through airline transfer partners and travel bookings. Welcome Bonus: 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening. Earning Points: 10x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through the Citi Travel portal; 3x points on airfare, hotels, gas stations, EV charging, supermarkets, and restaurants. Card Benefits: $100 annual hotel credit on bookings of $500+ through the Citi travel portal, no foreign transaction fees, trip delay insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, secondary rental car insurance, and Mastercard World Elite benefits.
10. U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
4x Points on Dining
- bonus_miles_full
- 4X Points on Dining, Takeout, and Food Delivery
- 2X Points at Grocery Stores, Grocery Delivery, Streaming Services, Gas Stations, and EV Charging Stations
- $15 Annual Streaming Credit
- No Annual Fee
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card (review) excels at dining with 4x points on restaurants and delivery, but falls flat with just 1% back on everyday purchases. While it offers decent rewards on groceries, gas, and streaming services, its weak base earning rate makes it better as a specialized dining card than an everyday spending option
Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full
Earning Rewards: 4x points on dining, takeout, and restaurant delivery on the first $2,000 each quarter; 2x points on grocery stores, streaming services, gas stations, and EV charging stations; 1x points everywhere else.
Card Benefits: $15 annual streaming credit, 0% Intro APR offer, and no foreign transaction fees.
Our Methodology
When curating our list of the best credit cards, we employ a comprehensive review process that reviews over 150 cards to ensure we provide recommendations that suit a wide array of financial needs and preferences. Our methodology is data-driven and consumer-focused, taking into account the following key factors:
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Welcome Bonuses: We assess the value of the welcome bonuses offered by credit cards, understanding that a substantial initial bonus can significantly enhance the cardholder’s value proposition.
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Fees: It’s essential to consider the cost of owning a credit card. We evaluate annual fees, balance transfer fees, and foreign transaction fees, among others, to determine how they might offset the card’s benefits.
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Rewards: We analyze the rewards structure of each card, looking at the earning rate on purchases, the variety of categories that earn rewards, the overall value of the rewards points or miles, and redeeming points, miles, or cash back.
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Travel Benefits: For cards tailored towards travelers, we review all of the cards’ travel benefits including, airport lounge access, travel insurance, and no foreign transaction fees, to judge the card’s utility for frequent travelers.
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Purchase Benefits: We also consider purchase benefits such as extended warranty, purchase protection, cell phone insurance, and return protection, which can provide additional value and peace of mind for cardholders.
Our selections are regularly updated to reflect the most current offers and card features, ensuring our readers have access to the most relevant and beneficial credit card options on the market.
Frequently Asked Questions
How To Choose the Best Card for Dining and Restaurants
When searching for the best credit card for dining and restaurants, it’s crucial to consider how the card aligns with your individual spending habits and lifestyle. If you’re someone who enjoys dining out frequently or loves to explore new eateries, a card that offers high rewards on restaurant purchases should be at the top of your list. Start by examining the rewards structure of potential credit cards; look for options that provide bonus points, miles, or cash back specifically for dining expenses. Some cards may offer a higher rewards rate for dining than for other categories, which can significantly increase the value of every meal you charge to your card.
In addition to the rewards rate, it’s important to consider the overall benefits package that comes with the card. Some dining credit cards include perks such as monthly dining credits, discounts at selected restaurants, or complimentary membership to food delivery services. These added features can enhance your dining experience and provide savings that go beyond the basic rewards rate. Also, be mindful of the annual fee and calculate whether the rewards and perks will offset this cost. If you’re not a frequent diner, a card with no annual fee but a lower rewards rate might be more suitable. Lastly, take into account the card’s redemption options and ensure that they align with your preferences, whether that’s cash back, travel, or dining experiences, to maximize the enjoyment and utility you derive from your card.
What Makes a Credit Card Good for Restaurant Spending?
A credit card is considered good for restaurant spending if it offers a high rewards rate on dining, such as bonus points or cash back specifically for money spent at restaurants.
Additional perks like dining credits, discounts at partner restaurants, or complimentary memberships to food delivery services can also make a card particularly valuable for food enthusiasts. The best restaurant credit cards may also provide access to exclusive culinary events or experiences, enhancing the dining experience for cardholders.
It’s essential that the card has a reasonable annual fee that doesn’t negate the benefits earned from dining rewards. Lastly, for those who enjoy international cuisine, a card that offers rewards on international dining without foreign transaction fees is a great fit.
Can I Combine Rewards from Other Loyalty Programs?
Yes, you can often combine the rewards from your dining credit card with other loyalty programs or offers.
By linking your credit card to a dining rewards program, you can earn points or miles from the card and the program simultaneously. This practice, known as “double-dipping,” maximizes the rewards you can accumulate with each meal purchased.
Additionally, if a restaurant offers its own loyalty program, you can usually earn those rewards on top of your credit card rewards. However, it’s important to check the terms and conditions of both your credit card and the loyalty programs to ensure they allow such combinations and to understand the process of redeeming the combined rewards.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
For the rates and fees of the American Express® Green Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
