5 Best Credit Cards for Restaurant and Dining Rewards

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Everyone has to eat. Whether you are going to a favorite restaurant, hitting up the drive-thru or enjoying a home-cooked meal, there is a cost involved somewhere along the way. To help you get the best rewards for every dollar spent, we’ve compiled credit cards that offer the best restaurant and dining rewards.

Best Dining and Restaurant Credit Cards

Card	Rewards Rate	Best For	Annual Fee	Learn More
Chase Sapphire Preferred®	1x- 5xPoints More Info The card offers 5x points per dollar on Chase Travel℠, 3x points on dining (including eligible takeout and delivery services), as well as 3x points on select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs). This card earns 2x points on all other travel spending and 1x point per dollar everywhere else. Chase broadly defines travel to include not just airfare, hotels and rental cars, but expenses like parking, tolls and public transit too.	Best for strong travel rewards redemptions	$95	This product is currently not available via Slickdeals. All information about this product was collected by Slickdeals and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
Citi Custom Cash® Card Apply Now Rates & Fees	1% - 5%Cashback More Info Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025.	Best for strong rewards rates	$0	Apply Now Rates & Fees
Citi Premier® Card Apply Now Rates & Fees	1X-10XPoints More Info 10X total ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024. 3X -- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels 3X -- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets 1X -- Earn 1 Point on All Other Purchases	Best for rewards on everyday spending	$95	Apply Now Rates & Fees
Chase Freedom Unlimited® Apply Now	1.5% - 5%Cashback More Info 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.	Best for generous sign-up bonus	$0	Apply Now
Chase Sapphire Reserve®	1x - 10xPoints More Info The card offers 10x points per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars as well as 5x points on air travel booked directly through Chase Ultimate Rewards immediately after you spend $300 on travel purchases annually. Additionally, earn 3x points per dollar spent on all other travel and dining purchases and 1x everywhere else.	Best for luxury perks	$550	This product is currently not available via Slickdeals. All information about this product was collected by Slickdeals and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

Chase Sapphire Preferred®

This product is currently not available via Slickdeals. All information about this product was collected by Slickdeals and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

• Our Rating 5/5 How our ratings work Read the review
• APR21.49% - 28.49% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$95
• Sign Up Bonus 60,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points More Info

  Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $1,380 (60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.023 base)

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of the gold standards for earning travel rewards. It has a generous sign-up bonus and you can earn points on travel and dining expenses. The card does have an annual fee, but you can continue earning points through bonus categories and an anniversary points boost.

• Overview
• Pros & Cons

Overview

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is pretty flexible as it lets you transfer rewards points into miles or points several airlines and hotel programs. You can take advantage of strong transfer partners such as United, Southwest, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Hyatt. Similarly, you can book any reservation you want through the Chase Travel℠ portal. Although the card might not be ideal for the most frequent travelers, it has a built-in upgrade path, so when it’s time to level up your travel rewards game, you won’t have to start from scratch.

Read the review

Pros

• Points are easily transferable to airlines and hotel partners
• Accelerated earnings on dining, travel & household purchases
• Excellent travel and purchase protections
• No foreign transaction fees

Cons

• Not ideal for the highest spenders
• $95 annual fee

Best For: Strong Travel Rewards

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the gold standards for earning travel rewards. This travel credit card helps users earn points quickly with accelerated rewards in everyday spending categories like travel and dining.

Cardholders enjoy perks like a $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, 10% anniversary point boost and access to the Chase Travel℠ portal.

New cardmembers can earn 60,000 bonus points after using their credit card to spend $4,000 within three months of account opening. This bonus is worth $750 in travel reservations booked through Chase Travel℠, but potentially more when transferred to airline and hotel partners. Read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.

Citi Custom Cash® Card

Apply Now

Secure application on issuer’s website

Rates & Fees

• Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work Read the review
• APR 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$0
• Sign-Up Bonus $200Cash Bonus More Info

  Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.

The Citi Custom Cash® Card, from our partner Citi, has a novel approach to rewarding spending. It offers impressive cash back on purchases made in your top eligible spending category each month, up to a monthly spend cap—no activation required.

• Overview
• Pros & Cons

Overview

If you want a card that doesn’t require constant category activation and monitoring to make sure you’re getting the highest cash back percentage, this is a great option. Whatever spending category that has the highest spend (up to $500) in one billing cycle gets 5% cash back. That’s up to $300 per year, and if you get the sign-up bonus you can get up to $500 in cash back your first year.

Read the review

Pros

• Relatively easy to maximize the 5% cash back reward and earn $300 per year
• No annual fee
• The cash back comes in the form of Citi ThankYou points, which can be redeemed for things like travel

Cons

• 5% cash back tier is capped at $25 in earnings per month

Best for: Strong Rewards Rates

The Citi Custom Cash^® Card, from our partner Citi, gives cardholders the chance to earn 5% cash back every month on their top eligible spending category, up to $500 each month — no activation required. This Citi card is technically billed as a cash-back credit card, but you’ll actually earn ThankYou Points, which can be worth more than traditional cash-back rewards.

Citi Custom Cash Card is offering $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 in the first 6 months — that’s 20,000 ThankYou Points, which you can redeem for cash back or for a number of other things, including gift cards and travel. Read our full review of the Citi Custom Cash Card.

Citi Premier® Card

Apply Now

Secure application on issuer’s website

Rates & Fees

• Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work Read the review
• APR21.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$95
• Sign Up Bonus 60,000Citi ThankYou Points More Info

  Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou Points after making $4,000 worth of purchases during the first three months of account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $1,080 (60,000 Citi ThankYou Points * 0.018 base)

The Citi Premier® Card, from our partner Citi, is worth considering if you’re looking for accelerated travel rewards but don’t want to pay a huge annual fee. It’s easy to quickly rack up lots of points on this card. While you can redeem ThankYou points for gift cards, you’ll get more value when you redeem points for flights and hotels, and potentially even better value when you transfer points to travel partners.

• Overview
• Perks
• Pros & Cons

Overview

This credit card offers its members a range of incentives, such as bonus points, gift cards and 1:1 point transfers with airline partners. One of the more unique features of the Citi Premier^® Card from our partner Citi is that it offers 3x ThankPoints for every dollar spent at supermarkets, gas stations, restaurants and travel purchases. Plus, new cardholders can earn 60,000 ThankYou Points after spending $4,000 during the first three months of account opening.

Read the review

Perks

• Earn 3x ThankYou Points per dollar spent on travel, grocery stores, restaurants and gas stations
• Annual $100 hotel savings benefit. Just book a hotel stay of $500 or more through thankyou.com or 1-800-THANKYOU to earn the discount.
• No foreign transaction fees
• Easily transfer your points to Citi's airline partners

Pros

• High reward rate on common categories of consumer spending
• Points are easily transferable to airlines and hotel partners
• No foreign transaction fees
• Points never expire

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• No standout rewards category

Best for: Rewards on Everyday Spending Categories and Transfer Partners

More Details: The Citi Premier^® Card, from our partner Citi, is worth considering if you’re looking for a travel credit card, but don’t want to pay a huge annual fee. The Citi Premier Card offers new cardholders a sign-up bonus of 60,000 ThankYou Points after spending $4,000 during the first three months of account opening.

Additionally, this Citi credit card offers a range of incentives, such as bonus points, gift cards and deals with retail partners. Best of all, you’ll get more value when you redeem points for flights, and potentially even better value when you transfer points to Citi's travel partners.

Read our full review of the Citi Premier Card.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Apply Now

Secure application on issuer’s website

• Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work Read the review
• APR20.49% - 29.24% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$0
• Sign Up Bonus 1.5%Extra Cash Back More Info

  Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.

We like that the card offers a high flat rewards rate but also provides accelerated rewards on some common everyday spending categories. You’ll also get access to the Chase Travel portal, which allows you to use your cash-back earnings for travel rewards, gift cards and more. If you make this your primary card for most purchases you can quickly rack up a lot of rewards.

• Overview
• Pros & Cons

Overview

The Chase Freedom Unlimited card is unique for a couple of reasons. First, it comes with purchase protection and extended warranty protection you don’t see with some other cash-back cards. Second, you earn cash back in the form of points (Chase Ultimate Rewards) and when paired with another annual-fee earning Chase product, you can get even more value if you love to travel by transferring to partners.

That’s because while the Freedom cards are marketed as cash-back credit cards, they actually offer points. You can use those points to book travel through Chase at a rate of 1 cent per point. But if you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® or Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you’ll get 25% and 50% more value on those travel redemptions, respectively. (Plus, the ability to transfer your points, too.)

Read the review Read More

Pros

• No category bonuses to remember; earn at least 1.5% back on everything
• No annual fee
• Generous travel and purchase protection benefits

Cons

• Can't transfer Chase points unless paired with another annual-fee Chase product

Best for: Generous Sign-Up Bonus

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a valuable all-around credit card with no annual fee. This cash-back card earns a rewards rate of 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel, 3% back at drugstores, 3% back on dining, including takeout and eligible delivery services and a flat-rate 1.5% back on other purchases. There are no rotating categories to track, caps on how much you can earn or excluded purchase categories.

As part of a special offer, new cardholders can earn an extra 1.5% cash back on all purchases (up to $20,000 spent) during the first year of card-membership. This brings the total potential earning power of this card up to 6.5% during the promotional period. If you plan to use this card a lot, you could easily earn enough cash back to be competitive with the best sign-up bonuses currently available. Read our full review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited Card.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

This product is currently not available via Slickdeals. All information about this product was collected by Slickdeals and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

• Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work Read the review
• APR22.49% - 29.49% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$550
• Sign-Up Bonus 60,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points More Info

  Earn 60,000 bonus points after using your card to spend $4,000 within three months of account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $1,380 (60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.023 base)

This card features an annual credit for travel purchases, which can offset the annual fee, plus bonus points when you sign up. You'll also get free access to tons of Priority Pass lounges and restaurant options around the world, along with access to the upcoming Chase Sapphire Lounge network.

• Overview
• Pros & Cons

Overview

If you’re looking to elevate your travel experience, look no further than the Chase Sapphire Reserve. When you first get approved, you’ll earn a sign-up bonus of 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 in the first three months—that’s worth at least $900 in travel-related spending booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards® and potentially more if you transfer your rewards to one of Chase’s airline or hotel partners.

Read the review

Pros

• An array of premium travel perks including access to Priority Pass lounges
• Easy-to-use $300 travel credit that helps offset card's annual fee
• Generous rewards rates for spending

Cons

• High annual fee may be a deterrent for some
• Perks are starting to get stale relative to newer competition

Best for: Luxury Perks

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is among the top premium travel cards available. While this credit card comes with a hefty $550 annual fee, the Sapphire Reserve is packed with travel perks that more than make up for the expense.

Right off the bat, the Chase Sapphire Reserve features a $300 annual travel credit. You also get free access to more than 1,300 Priority Pass lounges and restaurant options in airports around the world. Those lounges usually give you free food and drinks, cleaner bathrooms, fast internet and a comfortable place to sit outside of the ruckus of an airport terminal.

New cardholders can also earn a sign-up bonus of 60,000 points after they spend $4,000 during the first three months of account opening. This Chase Sapphire Reserve bonus is worth $900 in travel redemptions when booking through Chase Travel℠ — where each point is worth at least 1.5 cents. Read our full Chase Sapphire Reserve review.

How to Choose the Best Credit Card for Restaurant and Dining Rewards

When selecting the best restaurant credit cards for your wallet, start by estimating your monthly and annual spending on food purchases. This initial step will help you determine which offers the most value based on your specific spending patterns, whether that involves dining out at restaurants, ordering delivery or enjoying at-home meals through online grocery purchases.

Here are some important factors to consider when choosing the right dining rewards card:

• Rewards rate on dining: Choose cards that offer a high rewards rate on dining purchases at restaurants, including fast food restaurants and other eligible dining categories. This ensures maximum rewards for every dollar spent on dining experiences.
• Annual fee: Evaluate whether the rewards rate and benefits justify the annual fee. The right card should offer valuable rewards that more than cover the annual fee, based on your dining spending.
• Points vs. cash back vs. miles: Decide between earning points, cash back or miles. Points are versatile for travel or dining redemptions; cash back is straightforward and flexible; miles are ideal for frequent flyers looking to save on flights. Choose the currency that best fits your lifestyle.
• Sign-up bonuses: Look for popular credit cards that offer generous sign-up bonuses that fit within your monthly spending habits. These bonuses can significantly enhance your rewards potential in the first year.
• Dining credits: Cards that provide restaurant credits or discounts for food delivery services add extra value, especially for those who frequently enjoy dining out or ordering food delivery.
• Complimentary memberships: Benefits such as complimentary memberships for food delivery platforms, free airport lounge access or exclusive dining experiences can significantly improve your dining card's value.
• Eligible dining categories: Confirm whether your card's dining category covers a wide range of restaurant purchases, including fast food, catering and/or sports bars.
• Foreign transaction fees: If you travel abroad often, opt for a restaurant credit card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees.
• Additional benefits: Seek out dining cards that offer standout benefits beyond the restaurant category, such as bonus miles and points for popular streaming services or grocery store purchases. Some credit card issuers offer perks like culinary events, exclusive restaurant reservations or special dining experiences that can add a lot of value too.

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Should You Get a Dining Rewards Credit Card?

For people who enjoy eating out a lot, dining credit cards are ideal, as they turn each meal into a chance to earn rewards. Restaurant rewards credit cards are particularly well-suited for epicureans who find themselves regularly exploring new restaurants or returning to favorite spots.

However, if your spending on dining is minimal, a general rewards card might be a better fit and help you unlock greater value in areas where you spend more.

FAQs

• Does “dining” include fast-food purchases?

  Yes, most credit card issuers include fast-food purchases in the dining and restaurant category. However, sometimes fast-food purchases at entertainment venues, sport arenas and airports do not code as dining. In these cases, you’ll earn rewards either in the entertainment category or your card’s base rewards rate.

• Does Starbucks count as “dining” purchases?

  Starbucks is usually counted as a dining or restaurant purchase. However, it depends on how the individual merchant codes itself. So if you find that a particular Starbucks did not award you the correct amount of rewards, then it is most likely an issue with that specific Starbucks.

• Does bars as restaurants?

  Yes. In most cases, credit card issuers will count purchases made in bars as a dining or restaurant expense. However, it will depend on the specific establishment’s merchant category code.

• Do UberEats and DoorDash orders code as restaurants?

  Most credit card issuers will code orders from food delivery apps like UberEats and Doordash as restaurants/dining.