Do you love food? Then your credit card should, too. Whether you like to try new restaurants every weekend or just want to earn some cash back on your grocery bill, the right dining credit card can help you get rewarded every time you grub. We’ve outlined our picks for the 8 best credit cards for restaurants. These cards serve up some tasty rewards for dining out, ordering in, and everything in between.
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7 best credit cards for restaurants and dining
We’ve outlined some of the best credit cards for restaurants and dining based on what the card is most valuable for:
Best for restaurants and daily spending: Chase Unlimited Freedom Card
Best for groceries: American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card
Best for bonus points: US Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card
Best for low spenders: Citi Custom Cash Card
Best with an annual fee: American Express Gold Card
Best for flexible rewards: Citi Double Cash Credit Card
Best for no foreign transaction fees: Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card
1. Best for restaurants and daily spending: Chase Unlimited Freedom
Source: chase.com
Looking for a card that packs a punch at restaurants, but also doubles as a daily swiper? The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a solid option that offers 3% cash back on dining and drugstores, plus a flat 1.5% back on all other purchases with no annual fee.
This Chase card also comes with plenty of built-in benefits and protections, including auto rental insurance, travel and emergency assistance, trip interruption insurance, and more. Plus, new cardholders will enjoy a 0% intro annual percentage rate (APR) on both balance transfers and purchases for 15 months.
Credit score needed: 690-850 (good to excellent) | Foreign transaction fee: 3% |
|---|---|
Bonus offer: Earn $200 when you spend $500 in the first 3 months of opening your account. | Cash advance fee: $10 or 5%, whichever is higher |
Annual fee: None | Balance transfer fee: $5 or 3% (whichever is higher) for the first 60 days. After that, $5 or 5% of the transfer. |
Regular APR: 18.99% to 28.49% | Rewards rate: Minimum 1.5% cash back on all purchases |
2. Best for groceries: American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card
Source: americanexpress.com
The American Express Blue Cash Preferred® is a great option if you do most of your dining at home. This card offers an impressive 6% cash back on groceries (up to $6,000 per year) with no annual fee for the first year.
In addition to its grocery rewards, you’ll earn 3% back on streaming subscriptions, transit, and gas, plus 1% on everything else. As an Amex cardholder, you’ll also enjoy a range of included benefits like car rental insurance, a 24/7 global assist hotline when traveling, and an $84 credit for Disney+. Finally, new cardholders get a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months.
Credit score needed: 690-850 (good to excellent) | Foreign transaction fee: 2.7% |
|---|---|
Bonus offer: Earn $300 when you spend $3,000 in the first 6 months | Cash advance fee: $10 or 5%, whichever is higher |
Annual fee: $0 for the first year, then $95 | Balance transfer fee: $5 or 3%, whichever is higher |
Regular APR: 20.24% to 29.24% | Rewards rate: Minimum 1% cash back on eligible purchases |
3. Best for bonus dining points: US Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card
Source: usbank.com
Looking for a card that dishes out bonus points for all food spending? The US Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature Card is likely your best choice. This card offers 4X points on dining, takeout, and restaurant delivery on your first $2,000 each quarter, with no annual fee.
It also offers 2X points at grocery stores, gas stations, and on streaming platforms. Plus, 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. Finally, new cardholders enjoy a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months.
Credit score needed: 690-850 (good to excellent) | Foreign transaction fee: 3% |
|---|---|
Bonus offer: Earn 20,000 points when you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days | Cash advance fee: $10 or 5%, whichever is higher |
Annual fee: None | Balance transfer fee:$5 or 3%, whichever is higher |
Regular APR: 18.24% to 28.24% | Rewards rate: Minimum 1 point per $1 spent |
4. Best for low spenders: Citi Custom Cash Card
source: citi.com
The Citi Custom Cash® Card is a great option for people who want to earn solid rewards without breaking the bank by eating out all the time. This card offers 5% back in your top eligible spending category each month, up to $500. So if you spend just $500 dining out or on groceries each month, then you’ll earn at least $25 in cash back. After you hit the $500 limit, you’ll continue to earn 1% back on all purchases.
This card is a great option for people who want to maximize their cash back while keeping their spending modest. Plus, there’s no annual fee, and new cardholders get a 0% intro APR on both purchases and balance transfers for 15 months.
Credit score needed: 690-850 (good to excellent) | Foreign transaction fee: 3% |
|---|---|
Bonus offer: Earn $200 when you spend $1,500 in 6 months | Cash advance fee: $10 or 5%, whichever is higher |
Annual fee: None | Balance transfer fee: $5 or 5%, whichever is higher |
Regular APR: 18.24% to 28.24% | Rewards rate: Minimum 1 point per $1 spent |
5. Best with an annual fee: American Express Gold Card
Source: americanexpress.com
If you don’t mind an annual fee, then there may not be a better option than the American Express® Gold Card when it comes to some of the best credit cards for restaurants and dining. For $325 annually, this card offers 4X points at restaurants (up to $50,000 per year), 4X on groceries (up to $25,000), 3X on flights, and 1X on everything else.
The Amex Gold Express also serves up over $500 in annual statement credits, which can help offset the annual fee. These credits include:
$120 for Uber Eats
$100 for Resy
$84 for Dunkin’
$120 for eligible dining purchases
Plus, you’ll enjoy all the perks of being an Amex cardholder, which include car rental insurance, a 24/7 global assist hotline when traveling, baggage insurance, and no foreign transaction fees.
Credit score needed: 690-850 (good to excellent) | Foreign transaction fee: None |
|---|---|
Bonus offer: 100,000 points when you spend $6,000 in 6 months | Cash advance fee: $10 or 5%, whichever is higher |
Annual fee: $325 | Balance transfer fee: $5 or 5%, whichever is higher |
Regular APR: 20.24% to 29.24% | Rewards rate: Minimum 1 point per $1 spent |
6. Best for flexible rewards: Citi Double Cash Credit Card
Source: citi.com
The Citi Double Cash® Credit Card offers an unlimited flat 2% cash back: 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay. This makes it a great option for people looking for a strong all-around rewards program. You’ll earn 2% on restaurants and dining, but will also enjoy 2% on bills and all other expenses.
The Citi Double Cash card also has no annual fee, and new cardholders enjoy a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for the first 18 months.
Credit score needed: 630-850 (fair to excellent) | Foreign transaction fee: 3% |
|---|---|
Bonus offer: Earn $200 when you spend $1,500 in 6 months | Cash advance fee: $10 or 5%, whichever is higher |
Annual fee: None | Balance transfer fee: $5 or 3% (whichever is higher) for 4 months, then $5 or 5% |
Regular APR: 18.24% to 28.24% | Rewards rate: Minimum 2% cash back on all purchases |
7. Best for no foreign transaction fees: Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card
Source: chase.com
Looking for the best dining card, both domestically and internationally? You’ll want to consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card. This card offers 3X points on dining, online groceries, eligible delivery services, and streaming. Plus, 2X on travel expenses and 1X on all other purchases, all with no foreign transaction fees.
You’ll also enjoy complimentary DashPass, which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees (a value of $120 annually). Plus, as a Chase cardholder, you’ll get tons of included protections like auto rental insurance, travel and emergency assistance, trip interruption insurance, and lost luggage insurance. However, just be prepared for the $95 annual fee.
Credit score needed: 690-850 (good to excellent) | Foreign transaction fee: None |
|---|---|
Bonus offer: Earn 60,000 points when you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months | Cash advance fee: $10 or 5%, whichever is higher |
Annual fee: $95 | Balance transfer fee: $5 or 5%, whichever is higher |
Regular APR: 19.99% to 28.24% | Rewards rate: Minimum 1 point per $1 spent |
How do restaurants and dining credit cards work?
You eat. You swipe. You get rewarded. That’s the beauty of restaurant and dining credit cards.
These rewards can come in all shapes and sizes, including cash back, points, miles, or a statement credit that you can spend on food. It all depends on the card.
The rewards structure can also vary, with some cards offering a flat rate on all dining (like 3% cash back), while others offer boosted rewards for spending on specific categories like grocery stores, restaurants, or delivery apps. Restaurant and dining credit cards can offer a great way to get rewarded for one of life’s most essential expenses.
👉 Ultimate Guide on How Credit Cards Work
How to choose credit cards for restaurants and dining
There’s a lot to consider when trying to select the best dining credit card. Here are a few of the main perks to keep in mind
Higher cashback or points on dining purchases: Look for cards that offer higher cash back or points on dining, when compared to other categories. For example, some cards might offer 1% cash back on most purchases, but 3% back on dining.
No foreign transaction fees if you dine internationally: It’s common for credit cards to charge a foreign transaction fee of between 1-3% to swipe overseas. If you dine internationally often, then you’ll want to look for a card that waives this fee.
Special dining perks like reservations or statement credits: Some cards will offer unique perks like a statement credit to spend on dining each month or special access to reservations.
Annual fees that you can offset with your typical dining spend: Be sure to check if your card charges an annual fee. If it does, it’s usually a good idea to crunch the numbers and see how much you have to spend to offset the fee.
sign-up bonuses that focus on dining spending: It’s common for cards to offer a bonus if you spend a certain amount after opening a card. Be sure to look for cards with a sign-up bonus that is centered around spending on food to maximize your bonus.
Flexible redemption options: It’s also worth considering how your card will reward you, whether it’s cash back, redeemable points, gift cards, or something else.
What’s the Best Dining Credit Card? It Depends What You Like!
Choosing the best dining credit card is a bit like choosing the “best” type of food – it all depends on your preferences!
What matters the most is to pick a card that aligns with your spending habits and rewards you appropriately, whether that’s with simple cash back, bonus points, or something else. From no-annual-fee options to premium picks with fancy perks, there’s a card on this list that’ll help you feed your wallet while you feed yourself.
👉 11 Different Types of Credit Cards.
FAQs
What credit card offers the best dining rewards?
A few of the best credit cards for restaurants and dining include the Chase Unlimited Freedom (one of best for restaurants and daily spending), American Express Blue Cash Preferred (one of the best for groceries), and US Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature (one of the best for bonus dining points). Read our full article to learn our 8 picks for some of the best dining credit cards.
Are there credit cards that offer discounts at restaurants?
Many credit cards offer discounts and perks at restaurants, usually in the form of cash back, points, or credits. However, cards that offer a direct discount on your restaurant bill are rare.
How do credit cards reward dining purchases?
Just swipe your card at a restaurant, grocery store, or food delivery, and you’ll automatically earn cash back, points, or miles (depending on the card). Eat, earn, repeat.
Do credit cards with dining rewards have annual fees?
There are plenty of credit cards that offer dining rewards with no annual fee. However, cards that offer premium rewards usually come with an annual fee.
What is the best credit card for foodies in 2025?
One of the best credit cards for foodies in 2025 is the US Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature Card. This card offers a whopping 4X points on dining, takeout, and restaurant delivery on your first $2,000 each quarter, with no annual fee.
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