The Best Credit Cards for Dining [2025]

Whether you're a fan of takeout or prefer to indulge in top-rated restaurants, getting the best credit card for dining — one that earns rewards on all that foodie indulgence — is as appetizing as the meals you dream of eating.

Sure, there are the usual flat-rate cash back cards or travel rewards cards, but there may be better ways to maximize your earnings at restaurants. The best credit cards for restaurants feature elevated earn rates on dining out, annual dining credits, and even access to exclusive dining experiences.

The best credit cards for restaurants

Card	Great for …	Annual fee	Why it's great for dining out
American Express® Gold Card	International restaurants	$325	Earn 4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per year, after that 1X), 4X at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, after that 1X), 3X on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com, 2X on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com, and 1X on all other eligible purchases, plus get up to an annual $120 dining credit, enrollment required
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card	Exclusive dining experiences	$0	Earn 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services; 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply); 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; and 1% cash back on all other purchases and special access to premier culinary events
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card(Rates and fees)	Flexible redemptions	$95	Earn 10X Points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com; 3X Points on air travel and other hotel purchases, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas and EV charging stations; and 1X Points on all other purchases
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card(Rates and fees)	DoorDash benefits	$95	Earn 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries; 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points on all other purchases, plus enjoy exclusive dining experiences
Chase Sapphire Reserve®(Rates and fees)	Events access	$795	Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠ (including The Edit℠), 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct, 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases, plus enjoy exclusive dining experiences
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express	General business expenses	$0	Earn 2X Membership Rewards points on everyday eligible business purchases up to $50,000 each year, and 1X points on eligible purchases after that
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card(Rates and fees)	Business dinners	$0	Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year; 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year; and 1% cash back on all other purchases

American Express^® Gold Card

Yes, there's a $325 annual fee on the American Express Gold Card. But the perks you get with this travel rewards card are likely worth it if you take advantage of them all.

First, you earn 4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per year, after that 1X), 4X at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, after that 1X), 3X on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com, 2X on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com, and 1X on all other eligible purchases. If you spend $300 a month at restaurants, that translates into 14,400 Membership Rewards points annually from just dining out.

In addition to bonus rewards in popular spending categories, you also get other Amex Gold benefits, including up to $10 in monthly dining credits at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, and Wine.com. Enrollment is required for select benefits. Whether you're craving fast food or gourmet dining, this American Express card is an excellent option.

Plus, you can take advantage of the welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership.

Learn how to apply | Get more details in our American Express Gold Card review

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

With no annual fee, the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card could be a great choice for those with a lower budget.

Cardholders earn 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services; 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply); 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; and 1% cash back on all other purchases, which is great for those who prefer earning cashback rewards over points.

This card also offers cardholders unique dining experiences that are often exclusive to Capital One customers. Examples include presale access and special events at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, as well as Capital One passes to the James Beard House in New York City, where you can meet top-rated chefs and enjoy a multi-course meal.

And don't forget that new cardholders have the chance to earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.

Get more details in our Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card review.

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

You may not rack up as many points as with the two options above, but with the Citi Strata Premier Card, you can earn a respectable 10X Points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com; 3X Points on air travel and other hotel purchases, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas and EV charging stations; and 1X Points on all other purchases. Plus, earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.

Apart from its valuable bonus categories, one of the biggest perks of the Citi Strata Premier Card is its flexible rewards redemptions. The ThankYou Rewards program currently offers 14 travel transfer partners that you can transfer your points to, or you can book travel directly through the Citi site.

Other options include trading your points for cash back or gift cards — or even using your points to pay off your mortgage or student loans.

Apply now | Get more details in our Citi Strata Premier℠ Card(Rates and fees)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

With a $95 annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the more economical Sapphire option, but you can still earn some decent rewards. Earn 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries; 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points on all other purchases.

There's a reason why this card is so popular amongst rewards credit card enthusiasts — you earn Chase Ultimate Rewards, which offer some of the most flexible points around. There are more than a dozen Chase transfer partners where you can transfer your points, including Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and Marriott.

If you choose to redeem your points via the Chase travel portal, you can earn up to 1.5x more value on those points. On your card anniversary, you will also earn bonus points equal to 10% of the total purchases you made in the previous year. And you can earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel℠.

Plus, you'll get complimentary DashPass membership benefits for a minimum of one year when you activate by Dec. 31, 2027 (plus a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders) and access to exclusive culinary events with this card. Past events have included private dining experiences with top chefs and tastings at the hottest restaurants.

Lastly, you can earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Apply now | Get more details in our Chase Sapphire Preferred review

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

If you can stomach the $795 annual fee and really maximize all of this card's perks, the Chase Sapphire Reserve could be a great choice. This is especially true for frequent travelers.

Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠ (including The Edit℠), 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct, 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases. Plus, cardmembers receive $300 in annual travel credits each year and up to $25 monthly DoorDash credits while enrolled in your complimentary DashPass membership (activate by 12/31/27).

You'll have access to most of the same perks as the Chase Sapphire Preferred, but you get up to 2x more value when you use your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. You can also enjoy other travel benefits, such as car rental insurance, a complimentary Priority Pass membership, and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit every four years.

And of course, you also get access to special experiences and events with this card. Past opportunities included a private dinner at three-star Michelin restaurant Benu, a cocktail event with top mixologists, and an eclectic Miami tasting menu accompanied by a performance from John Legend.

Plus, through Reserved by Sapphire℠, cardholders get exclusive opportunities to make reservations at more than 20 of the most highly-rated restaurants across the country.

Lastly, you can earn 100,000 bonus points + $500 chase travel℠ promo credit after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Apply now | Get more details in our Chase Sapphire Reserve review

The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express

This business credit card is a great choice if you're looking for a straightforward earnings option. You don't need to worry about different rewards categories, so nearly all of your business purchases can rack up rewards.

There's a $0 annual fee with the Blue Business Plus Card from American Express, and you can earn 2X Membership Rewards points on everyday eligible business purchases up to $50,000 each year, and 1X points on eligible purchases after that.

Other perks include a 0% intro APR (annual percentage rate) on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening, then 17.49% - 27.49% Variable. This is a useful perk for business owners who are planning a large purchase and can benefit from a no-interest period to pay down existing debt.

Learn how to apply | Get more details in our Blue Business Plus Card from American Express review

Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card

With the Ink Business Cash Card, you can earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year; 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year; and 1% cash back on all other purchases. That means whether you pick up the bill on a client dinner or order takeout for late work sessions in the office, you can put your spending to work for you.

Like other Chase cards, there's a ton of flexibility in terms of how you can redeem your points. Book travel through the Chase travel portal, get cash back or gift cards, or shop with your points.

There's a $0 annual fee, and you can earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening.

Apply now | Get more details in our Ink Business Cash Card review

How to choose the best credit card for restaurants

Choosing the best credit card for dining out depends on a few factors.

Of course, you want to pick a card that offers the highest earning potential; many cards offer a double or triple rewards rate on dining costs. Make sure to read the fine print, as some credit card issuers have different definitions of what counts as a restaurant — you may not earn dining rewards on bakeries, caterers, or hotel food, for example.

Something else to consider is how you can redeem your rewards. Ideally, your credit card issuer offers a flexible rewards redemption, allowing you to redeem your points in a variety of ways. Think options such as cash back, statement credits, merchandise, gift cards, flights, hotels, and other types of travel. With so many options, it's easy to trade in your points for whatever is most beneficial to you.

If you've done some research on rewards credit cards, you'll know that some do charge annual fees. Annual fees might be worth it if you can maximize the benefits a certain credit card offers. In other words, you want to be able to use a card's features in ways that far outweigh the cost of the annual fee.

FAQs

Bottom line

Getting one of the best rewards credit cards can be a smart move, especially if you spend more than the average amount in categories like dining and restaurants. Make sure that whichever card you choose will help you earn rewards for other categories as well so you can optimize your entire spending profile.

And don't forget: You can combine these rewards with airline or hotel dining programs to earn even more each time you eat at participating restaurants. Here's to more sweet returns on your dining experiences.

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Compare Credit Cards

Current Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you make your first purchase and pay the annual fee in the first 90 days

Annual Fee

$99

Rewards Rate

2X miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, and 1X mile per dollar spent on all other purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you make your first purchase and pay the annual fee in the first 90 days
• 2X miles on eligible American Airlines purchases
• Intro APR on balance transfers
• In-flight savings options, first check bag free, preferred boarding
• No foreign transaction fees

Drawbacks

• Has annual fee
• Best for American Airlines travelers

Card Details

• Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you make your first purchase and pay the annual fee in the first 90 days
• 2X miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, and 1X mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
• Intro balance transfer 0% APR offer: 0% for 15 billing cycles (on balance transfers that post within 45 days of account opening) then 20.24% to 29.99% (variable)