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
American Express® Business Gold Card
Credit score needed
credit_score_needed
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.
Citi Custom Cash® Card
Credit score needed
Excellent, Good
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 19.24% - 29.24%, 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 6/30/2025.
- 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
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Credit score needed
credit_score_needed
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 purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and choose your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
Card Rewards:
- 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel, up to $500,000 per calendar year.
- 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
Additional Benefits:
- $200 Hotel Credit: Receive up to $200 back in statement credits annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel. 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 with your Platinum Card® for services like Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after paying with your Platinum Card®. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
- $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.
- $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership or club membership when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required.
- $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Get up to $189 back per calendar year on your CLEAR Plus Membership when you use your Platinum Card®. Learn more.
- $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive a $100 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®. Approved Global Entry members also receive TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com. Enrollment required.
- $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required. Enrollment required.
- Global Dining Access by Resy: Unlock exclusive reservations and special dining experiences when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
Annual Fee: $695.
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
Capital One® SavorOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card
Credit score needed
credit_score_needed
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, and streaming services. There is a annual_fees annual fee and new cardholders bonus_miles_full.
- Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 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; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
- No foreign transaction fee
- 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.
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
Credit score needed
credit_score_needed
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
Ink Business Cash® Card
Credit score needed
credit_score_needed
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:
- Business Relationship Bonus: Receive a 10% bonus if you have the Ink Business Cash card plus a Chase Business Checking account on your first card anniversary.
- 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
American Express® Gold Card
Credit score needed
credit_score_needed
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.
Fees:
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250. Terms Apply.
Pros:
- 90,000 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:
- $250 annual fee.
- No lounge benefits.
- Limited options to carry a balance.
Best for earning Chase Ultimate Rewards: card_name
Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card
Credit score needed
credit_score_needed
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.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass that comes with $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
- 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 $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®.
- Travel Protections: Includes Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, 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
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Credit score needed
credit_score_needed
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. That’s equivalent to $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel℠.
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
U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
Credit score needed
Excellent
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 (discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs excluded effective September 9, 2024) and at gas stations/EV charging stations (discount stores/supercenters, grocery stores and wholesale clubs excluded effective September 9, 2024).
- 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 18.24% to 29.24%.*
- 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
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 presented here is created by TIME Stamped and overseen by TIME editorial staff. To learn more, see our About Us page.