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Best Credit Cards for Restaurants and Dining in December 2024

best credit cards for restaurants
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updated: December 5, 2024

Dining out is a necessity, a convenience, and a luxury wrapped into one. It’s pretty great when someone else takes care of the cooking and cleaning up.

The average family spends nearly 6% of their monthly budget on food away from home, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture For the average family’s annual income of $74,580, that’s $372.90 per month, or $4,474.80 per year on dining purchases. Whether you eat out once a year or once a day, you might as well earn some rewards for it.

If you use a credit card that earns rewards on everything you spend on dining or take out, that’s a fair amount of that money back in your pocket. But which cards are best for maximizing your rewards on dining, delivery, and takeout?

Our recommendations

Best for sign-up bonus: card_name

card_name

American Express® Business Gold Card

American Express® Business Gold Card

Credit score needed
credit_score_needed
Annual fees
annual_fees
Welcome offer
bonus_miles

The card_name offers a lot for dining purchases. The card earns 4x points in the top two earning categories, which may include dining purchases. The elevated sign-up bonus of 125,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $10,000 in the first three months of account opening is a generous way to start earning rewards.

Introductory Offer:

  • Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

Card Rewards:

  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points in the two categories where your business spends the most each billing cycle, chosen from six eligible categories.
  • While your top two spending categories might change, you’ll earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (after which you'll earn 1X points).
  • Only the top two categories from each billing cycle will count toward the $150,000 cap.
  • You can earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through amextravel.com when using your Business Gold Card.

Fees:

  • Annual fee: annual_fees
  • Balance transfer fee: balance_transfer_fees
  • Cash advance fee: cash_advance_fee
  • Foreign transaction fee: foreign_transaction_fee

Pros:

  • Generous 75,000-point welcome bonus after spending $10,000 within 3 months.
  • 4x membership awards on top two (of 6) eligible bonus categories, plus 3x on eligible travel purchases.
  • The card offers beneficial travel benefits and insurance for frequent travelers.

Cons:

  • Highest rewards rate has a $150,000 annual spending cap.
  • Annual fee of $375.
  • Requires good/excellent credit.

Best for up to 5% cash back: Citi Custom Cash® Card

Citi Custom Cash® Card

Citi Custom Cash® Card

Credit score needed
Excellent, Good
Annual fees
annual_fees
Welcome offer
bonus_miles_full

The Citi Custom Cash® Card earns 5% on your top eligible earning category. If you use the card primarily for dining purchases, you’ll be sure to earn the full 5% cash back. The card doesn’t charge an annual fee and even has an introductory balance transfer offer of 0% interest for 15 months.

Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025.

  • Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 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.
  • 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.49% - 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
  • 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 6/30/2026.
  • No rotating bonus categories to sign up for – as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
  • No Annual Fee
  • Citi will only issue one Citi Custom Cash® Card account per person.

Pros:

  • No annual fee.
  • 5% cash back on top earning category.
  • 0% intro 12-month intro APR.

Cons:

  • 5% cash back is only good for the first $500 spent per billing cycle.
  • Requires good-to-excellent credit.
  • 2x points on grocery stores do not include discount stores, supercenters, and wholesale clubs.

Best for food delivery: card_name

card_name

The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Credit score needed
credit_score_needed
Annual fees
annual_fees
Welcome offer
bonus_miles

The card_name has a steep annual_fees annual fee, but it’s also packed with benefits—one of which is a generous $200 in Uber Cash. It comes as $15 credit each month, plus a $20 bonus in December for orders in the U.S.

This card also comes with a $200 hotel credit, $200 airline credit, $240 digital entertainment credit, $100 in statement credits for Saks Fifth Avenue, lounge access, $155 Walmart Plus credit, and many other benefits.

Introductory Offer:

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and choose your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.

Card Rewards:

  • 5X Membership Rewards® Points: Earn 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel, up to $500,000 per calendar year. Also, earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel.
  • $200 Hotel Credit: Receive up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
  • $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on services like Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.

Additional Benefits:

  • Global Lounge Collection®: Enjoy complimentary access to over 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries, offering more lounge options than any other credit card issuer.

  • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back each month.

  • $200 Airline Fee Credit*: Select one qualifying airline and receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.

  • $200 Uber Cash*: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status are available to Basic Card Members only. Terms apply.

  • $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Get up to $199 back per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership when you use your Card. CLEAR® lanes are available at over 100 airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.

  • Global Entry/TSA PreCheck® Credit: Receive a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® application fee when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.

  • Shop Saks* with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue stores or saks.com. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.

  • Global Dining* Access by Resy: Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.

  • Annual Fee: $695.

  • Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

    *Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Terms apply.

Pros:

  • $200 Uber Cash annually, including food delivery.
  • $155 annual Walmart+ membership credit.
  • $150,000 membership rewards points after spending $8,000 over 6 months.

Cons:

  • $695 annual fee.
  • Complicated rewards structure.
  • Requires good/excellent credit.

Best for fast food: card_name

card_name

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Credit score needed
credit_score_needed
Annual fees
annual_fees
Welcome offer
bonus_miles

The cash back for restaurant purchases on the card_name is 3%. And, it’s unlimited. Whenever you need to eat on the go, it’s always earning rewards.

The card also earns 3% back on entertainment, grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), and streaming services. There is a annual_fees annual fee and new cardholders bonus_miles_full.

Introductory Offer:

  • Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Benefit from a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months. After that, a variable APR of 19.49% - 29.49% applies. Note that balance transfer fees may apply.

Card Rewards:

  • Get 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®). Plus, earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
  • Enjoy 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases.
  • Earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Capital One guarantees the best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply.
  • No need to worry about rotating categories or sign-ups to earn rewards. Cash back won't expire for the life of the account, and there's no cap on earnings.

Additional Details:

  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • No annual fee.

Pros:

  • No annual fee.
  • Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, and other categories.
  • 0% 15 month intro APR.

Cons:

  • Good credit required.
  • Must book travel through Capital One to get boosted rewards rate.
  • Fewer insurance policies and purchase protections than other cards.

Best for 3% dining rewards: Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Credit score needed
credit_score_needed
Annual fees
$95
Welcome offer
bonus_miles_full

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is a strong earner for a number of categories. The card earns 3x points on restaurants, gas, flights, supermarkets, and other hotel purchases. The annual fee is $95 and the card earn 70,000 bonus ThankYou Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, earn a total of 10 ThankYou Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Cititravel.com portal.

  • Earn 70,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $700 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
  • Earn 10 points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
  • Earn 3 points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
  • Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
  • No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases

Pros:

  • 3x awards on restaurants, gas, EV, groceries, and travel.
  • 70,000 point welcome bonus for spending $4,000 in 3 months.
  • Has 19 transfer partners, including 14 airlines.

Cons:

  • Only one domestic airline partner.
  • No 0% intro APR.

Best business card for dining: card_name

card_name

Ink Business Cash® Card

Ink Business Cash® Card

Credit score needed
credit_score_needed
Annual fees
annual_fees
Welcome offer
bonus_miles

The card_name isn’t known for its dining bonus, but it still earns 2x points on all dining expenses. The big plus is that you can also earn 5% back at office supply stores on the first $25,000 spent. It doesn't have an annual fee and you bonus_miles_full.

Introductory Offer:

  • 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.
  • 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases

Card Rewards:

  • 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.
  • Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year.
  • Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Additional Benefits:

  • Zero Liability: You won’t be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
  • Annual Fee: None.
  • Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel, and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

Member FDIC

  • Balance transfer fee: balance_transfer_fees
  • Cash advance fee: cash_advance_fee
  • Foreign transaction fee: foreign_transaction_fee

Pros:

  • No annual fee.
  • 10% business relationship bonus.
  • Generous new cardholder bonus offer.

Cons:

  • Requires good/excellent credit
  • Spending caps on bonus rewards
  • Foreign transaction fee of 3%.

Best for travel rewards: card_name

card_name

American Express® Gold Card

American Express® Gold Card

Credit score needed
credit_score_needed
Annual fees
annual_fees
Welcome offer
bonus_miles

The card_name is an impressive rewards earner for travel and everyday purchases. It earns 4x points on restaurants, groceries, and flights, and 1x on all other purchases. The new member will bonus_miles_full. It also comes with $120 in dining credits, which can be used on purchases at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar, and select Shake Shack locations.

Introductory Offer:

  • Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

Card Rewards:

  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.

Additional Benefits:

  • $120 Uber* Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
  • $120 Dining* Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
  • Discover more than 1,000 luxury hotels globally with The Hotel Collection and enjoy a $100 credit for eligible expenses with every booking of two nights or more via AmexTravel.com. Eligible expenses differ by property.
  • Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.

*Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Fees:

  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325. Terms Apply.

Pros:

  • 60,000 membership rewards points for $6,000 spent in first 6 months.
  • Points transfer option to many partners.
  • Excellent travel rewards on dining and groceries.

Cons:

  • $325 annual fee.
  • No lounge benefits.
  • Limited options to carry a balance.

Best for earning Chase Ultimate Rewards: card_name

card_name

Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card

Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card

Credit score needed
credit_score_needed
Annual fees
annual_fees
Welcome offer
bonus_miles_full

The card_name is one of the top rewards cards for its earning potential and valuable redemptions. With the card_name, cardholders earn 3x points on dining and delivery services, and 10x points when dining is purchased through the Chase Ultimate Rewards program. The DoorDash benefits include $0 deliveries and $5 in statement credit each month. Other benefits include a $300 annual travel credit, airport lounge access, statement credit for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry, 10x points on Lyft rides and Peloton equipment, and free membership for Instacart for a year.

Introductory Offer:

  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening and redeem them through ChaseTravel℠ for $900 toward travel.

Card Rewards:

  • Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually.
  • Earn 3x points on other travel and dining, and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

Additional Benefits:

  • Annual Travel Credit: Receive $300 as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
  • Get 50% more value when you redeem points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
  • Point Transfer: 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs.
  • Airport Lounge Access: Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after a one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $120 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®.
  • Travel Protections: Includes Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, and more.

Member FDIC

Pros:

  • High rewards rate.
  • $300 travel credit.
  • 10x points on hotel and rental cars purchased through Chase.c

Cons:

  • Requires excellent credit.
  • High $550 annual fee.
  • No 0% intro APR.

Best for rich perks for low fee: card_name

card_name

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Credit score needed
credit_score_needed
Annual fees
annual_fees
Welcome offer
bonus_miles_full

The card_name (annual_fees annual fee) offers a rich rewards package for much less than the card_name (annual_fees). As far as dining purchases go, the card earns 3x points on dining, takeout, and delivery. It earns 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3x points on online grocery purchases, 3x on select streaming services, and 2x points on all other travel purchases. It also delivers DoorDash benefits (though no statement credits).

Introductory Offer:

  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.

Card Rewards:

  • 5x points on travel booked through Chase Travel℠.
  • 3x points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries.
  • 2x points on all other travel purchases.
  • 1x points on all other purchases.

Additional Benefits:

  • $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit and more.
  • Get 25% more value when redeeming points for airfare, hotels, car rentals, and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For instance, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
  • Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
  • Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
  • Lost Luggage Insurance
  • Complimentary DashPass Access: Enjoy $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for at least one year when activated by December 31, 2027.

Member FDIC

Pros:

  • High rewards rate.
  • $50 travel credit.
  • 5x points on hotel and rental cars purchased through Chase.

Cons:

  • Requires good/excellent credit.
  • Has $95 annual fee.
  • No 0% intro APR.

Best for no annual fee: U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card

card_name

U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card

U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card

Credit score needed
Excellent
Annual fees
$0
Welcome offer
20,000 points

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card offers 4x points on dining, takeout and restaurant delivery. In addition, the card earns 2x points on grocery purchases, streaming subscriptions, gas, and EV charging stations. There is no annual fee and you can earn a 20,000 point bonus by spending $1,000 in the first 90 days of account ownership.

  • Earn 20,000 bonus points. Just spend $1,000 in the first 90 days. That's a $200 value redeemable towards merchandise, gift cards, cash back, travel and more. Points never expire.
  • Earn 4X points on dining, takeout and restaurant delivery.
  • Earn 2X points on streaming services, at grocery stores and at gas stations/EV charging stations.
  • Earn 1X point on all other eligible purchases.
  • No annual fee and low intro APR: Enjoy no annual fee and get 0% intro APR* on purchases and balance transfers† for the first 12 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR applies, currently 17.49% to 28.49%.*
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • Receive a new cardmember $0 fee offer* on ExtendPay Plans opened in the first 60 days after account opening.
  • Get a $15 credit for annual streaming service purchases like Netflix, Apple TV+, Spotify® and more.

Pros:

  • 4x points on dining, takeout, and restaurant delivery.
  • No annual fee.
  • 0% intro APR.

Cons:

  • No hotel or airline transfer partners.
  • No bonus rewards for hotel or airline purchases.
  • Requires excellent credit.

Best Credit Cards for restaurants compared

Card nameAnnual feesCredit score neededBonus rewards
annual_fees
credit_score_needed
bonus_miles
$0
Excellent
20,000 points
annual_fees
Excellent, Good
bonus_miles_full
annual_fees
credit_score_needed
bonus_miles
annual_fees
credit_score_needed
bonus_miles
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
$95
credit_score_needed
bonus_miles_full
annual_fees
credit_score_needed
bonus_miles
annual_fees
credit_score_needed
bonus_miles
annual_fees
credit_score_needed
bonus_miles_full
annual_fees
credit_score_needed
bonus_miles_full

Our Methodology

The best credit cards for restaurants were chosen for their elevated rewards earned on purchases made at restaurants, and for takeout and delivery. Other benefits, such as statement credits or free memberships, were also taken into account.

How to pick the best credit card for restaurants

When deciding on the best credit card for restaurants, look for the following perks:

Bonus points

Many cards offer bonus points in the dining category. Look for one that earns 3x points (or more) on dining, which you can find even on cards with no annual fee.

Statement credits

Some cards offer money back when you use a meal delivery service or eat at particular restaurants. Premium travel rewards cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or The Platinum Card from American Express have these kinds of offers.

Delivery memberships

You can get a lot of value out of a DashPass or a GrubHub membership when you have food delivered regularly. Such memberships are often included with certain credit cards.

Redemptions you’ll use

You don’t want to earn rewards that can’t be redeemed for something cool. A good rewards card also needs to have the redemption side dialed in.

TIME Stamp: Not all dining rewards cards are created equal

Many cards offer rewards for eating at your favorite restaurant, but they’re not all created equal. Some credit cards have better earning rates and redemption options. Others may also offer statement credits, discounts, and other promotions for restaurant purchases.

With all the rewards available, it makes sense to pick a card (or two) that can earn a lot of rewards. Be sure that the bonus categories are a good match for your spending habits and the annual fee lines up with how many rewards you can earn.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Which credit card gives you the most points for dining?

The Citi Custom Cash allows customers to earn 5% cash-back earnings in two categories, including the dining category.

Which Amex card is best for restaurants?

As far as earning rewards, the Amex Gold earns 4x points on dining purchases worldwide and 4x points on delivery and takeout at U.S. restaurants. This is one of the best rates for an Amex card.

Is Chase Sapphire Preferred good for dining?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 3x points on all dining purchases, which is a great rate for earning rewards.

The information related to Citi Strata Premier℠ Card has been collected by TIME Stamped and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product or service.

The information related to Citi Custom Cash® Card has been collected by TIME Stamped and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product or service.

The information presented here is created by TIME Stamped and overseen by TIME editorial staff. To learn more, see our About Us page.

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