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Many rewards credit cards offer bonus spending categories: When you use your card to pay for purchases with certain types of merchants or retailers, you can earn multiple points or miles per dollar spent. Travel and airfare are popular categories for premium rewards cards, and over the past year, groceries and streaming entertainment subscriptions have also become lucrative bonus categories.
Dining, including takeout and delivery services, remains one of the most common—and popular—credit card bonus categories. Some of the best credit cards for restaurants earn bonus points on restaurant purchases and even offer statement credits to help you save on food delivery subscription services.
3 Partner Offers
| Our Picks for the Best Cards for Restaurants | |
|---|---|
 Chase Sapphire Reserve® | 10 points per dollar spent on hotels and car rentals and 5 points per dollar spent on flights when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® (after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually) 3 points per dollar spent on other travel and dining purchases 1 point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases |
 Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards® 3 points per dollar on dining 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases 1 point on everything else |
 Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card | 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target) 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases 1% cash back on all other purchases $200 one-time cash bonus after you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening |
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Though the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card has always offered bonus points on restaurant spending, recent partnerships have made it even more valuable to people who carry this card.
The card earns 10 points per dollar spent on hotels and car rentals and 5 points per dollar spent on flights when you purchase through Chase Ultimate Rewards® (after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually). You'll also earn 3 points per dollar spent on other travel and dining purchases, including takeout and eligible delivery services. You'll earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. The card's $300 travel credit reimburses you for travel purchases up to that amount each account anniversary year.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is currently offering new applicants 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards® bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's equivalent to $900 in travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Its annual fee is $550.
Read full reviewChase Sapphire Reserve®
APR
21.74% - 28.74% Variable
Intro APR
Rewards
Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® 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
5x Points on Flights Purchased Through Chase
3x Points on Dining
3x Points on Other Travel
1x Points on All Other Purchases
Intro Bonus
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 Ultimate Rewards®
Annual Fee
$550
Card 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 Ultimate Rewards®
- $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 Ultimate Rewards® 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 Ultimate Rewards®. 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
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
This card earns 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3 points per dollar on dining, 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases and 1 point on everything else.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is currently offering new cardholders 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months—worth up to $750 in travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Its annual fee is $95.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
APR
21.24% - 28.24% Variable
Intro APR
Rewards
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
3x Points on Dining
2x Points on Other Travel
1x Points on All Other Purchases
Intro Bonus
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 Ultimate Rewards®.
Annual Fee
$95
Card 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 Ultimate Rewards®.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®; 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. 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
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 3% cash back on dining, entertainment and grocery stores, excluding superstores like Walmart and Target, 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases and 1% back all other purchases. Not bad for a card with no annual fee, especially considering its current welcome offer is a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
on Capital One's website
Recommended FICO® Score*
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
APR
19.74% - 29.74% (Variable)
Intro APR
Rewards
3% Cash Back on dining and entertainment, 3% Cash Back on popular streaming services, 3% Cash Back at grocery stores, 1% Cash Back on all other purchases. Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases.
3% Cash Back on Streaming Services
3% Cash Back on Groceries
1% Cash Back on All Other Purchases
Intro Bonus
Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
Annual Fee
$0
Card Details
- Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), plus 1% on all other purchases
- Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
- Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
- 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
- No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.74% - 29.74% variable APR after that; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months
- No foreign transaction fee
- No annual fee
- Cash Advance APR: 29.74% variable APR. Cash Advance Fee: Either $3 or 3% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.
Do Bars And Coffee Shops Count as Restaurants?
The terms "dining" and "restaurant" can be a bit confusing when it comes to credit card categories. That's good news for consumers, though, since many credit cards that offer these bonus categories actually extend them to merchants beyond what you might think are included.
For instance, Chase categorizes "Dining/Restaurants" as merchants whose primary business is sit-down or eat-in dining, including fine-dining establishments as well as fast food restaurants. But you'll also find that many delivery services, including Grubhub, are counted in the dining category, as are some coffee shops and many bars. Those merchants that sell food within other facilities such as sports stadiums, theme parks or hotels are usually not included.
For its part, American Express divides restaurants into U.S. and global groupings, and excludes those that are located within other businesses such as hotels, casinos and event venues, as well as bars, nightclubs, cafeterias, caterers, theatre clubs, breweries, bakeries and meeting venues. Still, many purchases you may think fall into these categories are in fact coded as restaurant charges and thus earn bonus points. Terms apply.
Credit card issuers depend on merchants to categorize themselves for the most part, so if a café or bar lists itself as a restaurant, that's how the charge will earn points.
Are There Limits to Rewards Earned?
Some credit cards limit the number of bonus rewards you can earn in certain categories. For example, using the American Express® Gold Card, you can earn 4 points per dollar spent at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year in purchases, then 1 point per dollar spent after), 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com and 1 point per dollar spent on other eligible purchases. Terms apply.
Before you commit to a specific card for your dining buys, double-check the terms and benefits. That way, you can ensure your earning potential is not capped, or that you can at least maximize your rewards by spending up to any dollar ceilings there might be.
What Credit Score Do I Need for a Restaurant Rewards Card?
While some rewards credit cards are targeted to customers who are just getting started with credit or looking to build their credit history, the best credit cards for restaurants tend to be geared toward folks with good to excellent credit. That usually means you have a long history of paying off your bills responsibly and on time, and carry little to no debt.
Before applying for a credit card, get a free copy of your credit report and score from Experian so you will know what issuers see when they receive your application and whether it's worth applying for a certain card. You can also check out Experian CreditMatchTM for credit card offers that suit your needs.
Some of the best rewards credit cards include restaurants and dining among their bonus categories. By using such a card for your dine-in, takeout and delivery purchases, you can rack up extra rewards like points or cash much faster than with other everyday expenses. Just be sure you do so responsibly—and maximize any other perks the card might offer.