Last Updated on January 15, 2026 by Amrita Das
We all have to eat. For many of us, dining out isn’t just a necessity—it’s a hobby, a social activity, and a significant line item in our monthly budgets. Whether you are ordering takeout on a Tuesday night, grabbing coffee with a coworker, or celebrating an anniversary at a Michelin-star establishment, that spending adds up quickly.
If you are swiping a debit card or using cash for these meals, you are leaving money on the table. Dining is one of the most competitive categories in the credit card industry, which means issuers are fighting for your attention with massive rewards rates, statement credits, and exclusive perks.
Choosing the right card can turn your morning latte and Friday night pizza into free flights, hotel stays, or cold hard cash. But with fees ranging from $0 to nearly $800, finding the “best” card depends entirely on how much you spend and how you plan to use the rewards.
In this guide we will discuss about the top contenders (Best Credit Cards for Dining Out and Restaurants) to help you turn your appetite into assets.
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Best Credit Cards for Dining Out and Restaurants
The Heavy Hitters: Premium Cards for Foodies
If your social life revolves around reservations and you are willing to pay an annual fee for top-tier rewards, these cards are the gold standard.
1. American Express® Gold Card
For years, the Amex Gold has been the undisputed king of dining rewards, and despite a recent hike in its annual fee, it remains a powerhouse for serious foodies.
The Rewards:
The earning structure is designed specifically for people who spend heavily on food. You can enjoy earning 4X Membership Rewards® points when dining at restaurants globally, applicable to purchases up to $50,000 per calendar year.
After reaching this threshold, you’ll still earn points at a rate of 1X. As a bonus, you also get 4X points at U.S. supermarkets (capped at $25,000 per year).
The Perks:
The sticker shock of the $325 annual fee is real, but Amex attempts to offset this with a “coupon book” strategy of credits:
- $120 Dining Credit: Up to $10 monthly in statement credits when you pay at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys (enrollment required).
- $120 Uber Cash: Add your card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash monthly for rides or Uber Eats.
- $100 Resy Credit: Up to $100 in statement credits annually (split semi-annually) for eligible purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants.
- $84 Dunkin’ Credit: Up to $7 in monthly statement credits at U.S. Dunkin’ locations.
The Verdict:
If you can naturally use the monthly credits without changing your spending habits, the effective fee drops significantly. If you don’t use Uber or Grubhub, however, this card becomes expensive to hold.
Read More About American Express® Gold Card: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/card/gold-card/
2. Chase Sapphire Reserve®
While technically a travel card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is a fantastic option for dining, especially for those who want their points to go further on vacations.
The Rewards:
Here with this card, you can enjoy 3X points on dining worldwide. While that is lower than the Amex Gold’s 4X, Chase points are incredibly flexible. If you redeem them for travel through the Chase Travel℠ portal, they are worth 50% more, effectively giving you a 4.5% return on every meal.
The Perks:
The card commands a steep $795 annual fee. However, it comes with a $300 annual travel credit that is automatically applied to eligible purchases. It also includes access to “Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables” via the Chase Dining platform, helping you snag hard-to-get reservations.
Is it the best card for foodies?
If you view dining out not just as sustenance but as an experience, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is hard to beat. The combination of a high earning rate (3x) on a broad category, substantial statement credits for fine dining, and practical perks for food delivery makes it a comprehensive financial tool for anyone who loves food.
By syncing your card with OpenTable and DoorDash, and keeping an eye on your bi-annual credits, you can ensure that every meal contributes to your next big trip.
Read More About Chase Sapphire Reserve®: https://creditcards.chase.com/rewards-credit-cards/sapphire/reserve
The Mid-Range Warriors: High Value, Moderate Fees
Not everyone wants to pay hundreds of dollars just to hold a credit card. These options offer excellent dining returns with manageable annual fees under $100 (or slightly above).
3. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is often the first card recommended to beginners in the points and miles hobby. It strikes an excellent balance between a reasonable annual fee and strong rewards on dining.
Why it wins:
For a $95 annual fee, you earn 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide. This includes takeout and eligible delivery services. While 3X is lower than the 4X offered by Amex Gold, Chase Ultimate Rewards® points are incredibly versatile.
The perks:
Chase points are valuable because you can transfer them to airline and hotel partners (like United or Hyatt) or redeem them through Chase Travel℠.
- DashPass Subscription: Cardholders get a complimentary DashPass subscription (activation required by Dec. 31, 2027), which offers $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible DoorDash orders.
- 10% Anniversary Boost: Each year, you receive bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year. If you spent $20,000 on dining, you’d get an extra 2,000 points.
Who is this for?
This is the perfect card for the casual diner who wants to earn travel rewards without committing to a high annual fee. It’s also great for those who travel internationally, as there are no foreign transaction fees.
4. American Express® Green Card
Often overshadowed by the Gold and Platinum cards, the Green Card is a sleeper hit for people who spend money on “experiences”—specifically food and travel.
The Rewards:
You earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide. This matches the earning rate of many other cards but allows you to tap into the valuable Amex transfer partner network.
The side dishes: Travel, transit, and credits
While dining is a major draw, you likely don’t eat in a vacuum. You travel to eat. The American Express Green Card supports the lifestyle that surrounds your dining habits.
3X on Travel and Transit
Just as you earn 3X on dining, you also earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on eligible travel and transit.
- Travel covers airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, and car rentals.
- Transit covers the daily grind and the vacation commute, including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways.
This creates a perfect ecosystem for the urban foodie. You take a subway to dinner (3X points), you pay for dinner (3X points), and you book a flight to visit a food festival (3X points).
The CLEAR® Plus Credit
To sweeten the deal, the card offers up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year when you pay for a CLEAR® Plus membership with your card. CLEAR® uses biometrics to help you breeze through airport security.
If you travel often to hunt down the best eats, spending less time in security lines is a massive quality-of-life upgrade.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Since the 3X dining perk works worldwide, it is essential that the card doesn’t charge you extra to use it abroad. The Amex Green Card has no foreign transaction fees, meaning you won’t see that pesky 2.7% or 3% surcharge on your international restaurant bills.
Doing the math: Is the $150 annual fee worth it?
The American Express Green Card comes with a $150 annual fee. Is it worth it for you?
Let’s look at the math. If you utilize the CLEAR® Plus credit (up to $209 value), you have already theoretically covered the cost of the annual fee, provided you were going to pay for CLEAR anyway.
From a points perspective, if you spend roughly $2,500 to $3,000 a year combined on dining, travel, and transit, the points you earn (approx. 7,500 to 9,000 points) begin to offer substantial value when redeemed for travel.
However, if you rarely travel and your dining is mostly local, a no-annual-fee cash-back card might be mathematically superior.
Learn More About American Express® Green Card: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/card/green/
The Cash Back Champions: No Annual Fee
Sometimes, you don’t want to calculate point valuations or transfer ratios. You just want cash back in your pocket. These cards cost nothing to keep in your wallet and offer incredible returns on dining.
5. U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
Why it wins:
The credit card market is saturated with “premium” cards that offer great dining rewards but come with steep annual fees ranging from $95 to over $500. The U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card flips this script by offering top-tier dining value without charging you a cent just to hold the card.
The 4X multiplier effect:
The standout feature here is the ability to earn 4X points on dining, takeout, and restaurant delivery. To put that in perspective, many no-annual-fee competitors cap out at 3X or 2X on similar categories.
If you spend $500 a month on food—whether that’s Friday night dates, ordering in on a rainy Tuesday, or grabbing coffee on your commute—you are earning 2,000 points monthly just on those purchases.
Note: There is a cap of $2,000 spend per quarter for the 4X category. However, for most moderate spenders, this limit provides ample room to maximize rewards before dropping down to the standard rate.
Who is this for?
The U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card isn’t necessarily for everyone. High rollers who travel internationally every month might prefer a premium travel card, while big families might prioritize a card with higher grocery rewards.
However, there are three distinct groups for whom this card is a perfect match.
The Social Diner
If your social life revolves around food—trying the newest brunch spot, grabbing happy hour drinks, or ordering takeout for movie nights—this card was engineered for you.
The 4X points on dining is one of the highest rates available for a no-annual-fee card. If food is your biggest discretionary expense, this card will likely outperform almost any other option in your wallet.
The Subscription Streamer
If you have cut the cord and rely entirely on streaming services for entertainment, the combination of 2X points and the $15 annual credit makes this a smart choice. It essentially creates a small discount on the services you are already paying for, turning passive bills into active rewards.
The “One Card” Minimalist
Some people love the game of optimizing credit cards—using one card for gas, another for groceries, and a third for travel. Others just want simplicity. Because this card covers dining (4X), groceries (2X), gas/EV (2X), and streaming (2X) without an annual fee, it serves as an excellent “daily driver.”
You can use it for almost everything and know you are getting a solid return on your spending without having to maintain a spreadsheet of rotating categories.
Read More About U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card: https://www.usbank.com/credit-cards/altitude-go-visa-signature-credit-card.html
6. Capital One Savor Cash Rewards
You don’t need to pay a fee to earn great returns on your meals. The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is arguably the best $0 annual fee card for food lovers.
Why it wins:
This card offers unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target). Getting 3% back on a no-fee card is a competitive rate that rivals some premium cards.
The perks:
- Simplicity: You earn cash back, not complicated points. You can redeem for a statement credit or a check.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees: It is rare to find a no-annual-fee card that doesn’t charge you extra for using it abroad. This makes the Savor Cash Rewards an excellent companion for international food tours.
Who is this for?
Students, budget-conscious diners, or anyone who hates the idea of paying an annual fee. If you want a “set it and forget it” card that covers your bases for restaurants and groceries, this is a top contender.
Read More About Capital One Savor Cash Rewards: https://www.capitalone.com/credit-cards/savor/
7. The Specialist: Citi Custom Cash® Card
Why it wins on dining
The headline benefit of the Citi Custom Cash Card is its simplicity paired with a high earning rate. While competitors often force you into pre-set categories, Citi flips the script by automating the process.
The 5% automatic adjustment
You enjoy a whopping 5% cash back on your top eligible spend category every billing cycle. And the best part? This reward applies to up to $500 spent within that category. After that cap, you earn 1%. All other purchases earn an unlimited 1%.
The eligible categories are broad and useful:
- Restaurants
- Gas Stations
- Grocery Stores
- Select Travel
- Select Transit
- Select Streaming Services
- Drugstores
- Home Improvement Stores
- Fitness Clubs, and Live Entertainment.
If you spend more on dining than any other category in a billing cycle, you automatically trigger the 5% rate for your restaurant purchases. You don’t need to log in to “select” dining as your preference; the card does the math for you.
No annual fee
High-earning dining cards usually come with a price tag. The American Express® Gold Card, for example, earns 4X points at restaurants but charges a steep annual fee. The Citi Custom Cash offers a competitive 5% return for $0 per year, making it an entirely risk-free addition to your wallet.
The welcome offer
New cardholders can currently earn $200 cash back (fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points) after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. If you are exclusively using this card for dining, spending roughly $250 a month on food hits that bonus requirement easily.
The Catch: Limits and exclusions
While the 5% rate is excellent, there are specific limitations you need to understand to avoid missing out on rewards.
The $500 billing cycle cap
The 5% cash back is limited to the first $500 of spend in your top category per billing cycle. It is important to note that a billing cycle is not always the same as a calendar month. It depends on when your statement closes.
If you are a heavy spender who regularly drops $1,000+ a month on dining, this card effectively gives you a blended rate. For example, spending $1,000 on dining would yield:
- $500 at 5% = $25
- $500 at 1% = $5
- Total: $30 cash back on $1,000 spend (an effective 3% rate).
In this scenario, a card with an uncapped 3% or 4% dining reward might serve you better.
Who is this card for?
The Citi Custom Cash isn’t for everyone, but it fits perfectly into specific financial lifestyles.
The Budget Foodie
If your monthly dining budget hovers between $300 and $500, this is likely the best card on the market for you. You will maximize the 5% cap without exceeding it, earning the highest possible percentage on every dollar you spend on food.
The Optimizer
If you don’t mind carrying multiple cards to maximize rewards, the Citi Custom Cash is a powerful tool in a multi-card setup. It fills the “dining” gap perfectly if your other cards only offer 1-2% in that category.
The “Lazy” Maximizer
Even if you don’t want to track your spending obsessively, the card offers peace of mind. If you stop eating out one month and decide to spend $500 at Home Depot instead, the card automatically adjusts. You get 5% on home improvement that month without having to change any settings.
Read More About Citi Custom Cash® Card: https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/citi-custom-cash-credit-card
How to Choose the Right Dining out and restaurant Card for You
Seeing all these numbers can be overwhelming. To narrow down your choice, ask yourself these three questions:
Do you want Travel or Cash?
This is the most critical distinction.
- Travel Points: If you plan to fly or stay in hotels, points (from Chase or Amex) are generally more valuable. 4X points on the Amex Gold could be worth anywhere from 4% to 8% back depending on how you redeem them for travel.
- Cash Back: If you rarely travel, points are a hassle. A simple cash back card like the U.S. Bank Altitude Go guarantees you a 4% return that you can use to pay off your bill.
Can you maximize the credits?
Premium cards like the Amex Gold or Chase Sapphire Reserve effectively “pay you back” for the annual fee, but only if you use the credits.
- Ask yourself: Do you already order from Uber Eats or Grubhub twice a month? If yes, the Amex Gold credits are as good as cash. If no, you are essentially pre-paying for a service you don’t need just to earn points.
What is your total spend?
If you only spend $100 a month on dining, a high-fee card doesn’t make sense. The rewards you earn won’t cover the annual fee. However, if you spend $1,000+ a month on client dinners or family meals, the difference between earning 2X and 4X points is substantial—potentially enough to fund a domestic flight every year.
Read More: Best Cashback Credit Cards For Groceries In The USA
Best Credit Cards for Dining Out and Restaurants: FAQs
Does takeout count as dining for these cards?
Yes. In almost all cases, issuers define dining to include sit-down restaurants, fast food, and takeout/delivery services. Chase specifically lists “eligible delivery services” in their dining category.
Is it worth paying an annual fee for a dining card?
It depends on the math. Let’s look at the Amex Gold ($325 fee). If you use the $240 in dining/Uber credits and the $100 Resy credit, the “real” cost is effectively zero (actually, you come out ahead).
However, if you don’t use the credits, you would need to spend over $8,000 a year on dining just to break even on the fee compared to a no-fee card earning 3%.
Do these cards charge foreign transaction fees?
Most of the cards listed above—including the Chase Sapphire cards, Amex Gold/Green, and Capital One Savor—do not charge foreign transaction fees. This makes them excellent companions for dining abroad.
However, always double-check the terms and conditions, as some lower-tier no-fee cards still charge a 3% fee on international purchases.
What about rotating category cards?
Cards like the Citi Custom Cash® Card allow you to earn 5% cash back on your top eligible spend category each billing cycle (up to $500 spent).
If you use this card only for dining, you can earn 5% back, which beats almost everything else on this list. However, the $500 monthly cap ($6,000/year) makes it less ideal for big spenders.
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Best Credit Cards for Dining Out and Restaurants: Conclusion
Dining out is one of life’s great pleasures, and your credit card should enhance that experience, not complicate it.
If you want the absolute highest return and love travel, the Amex Gold remains the card to beat, provided you can stomach the fee. For a balanced travel card with a lower barrier to entry, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a wallet staple.
And for those who want high rewards without the headache of fees, the U.S. Bank Altitude Go and Capital One Savor offer exceptional value.
Take a look at your last three months of bank statements. See how much you really spend on food, check which delivery apps you already use, and pick the card that turns those calories into currency.
