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Best Dining Credit Cards
Dining can be a rewarding experience with cashback and loyalty programs provided by dining credit card options. You can expect free meals, airline perks and new takeout options, earning points every time you dine out. The underlying idea has been with us for a while, however recently, dining cards have become a staple for a modern lifestyle.
Best Dining Credit Cards in December 2024
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Up to $300 reimbursement for travel purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
- Free one-year subscription and $60 DoorDash credit
- Trip delay reimbursements
- Free one-year Lyft membership
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
- Free for all Costco members
- Damage & theft purchase protection
- No foreign transaction fees
U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
- Minimum 1,000 points before redemption
- No foreign transaction fees
- $15 annual credit for streaming services
- Online reward points calculator
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Cashback rewards don't expire
- $2,500 limit for 3% cashback
- Online reward points calculator
- Many options for redeeming points
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
- No rewards-category limitations
- ATM rewards withdrawal available
- Intro APR for balance transfers
- Zero liability protection
Top 5 Credit Cards for Dining - Our Picks for 2024:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® - Best for frequent travelers
- Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi - Best for regular Costco customers
- U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card - Best for users of streaming services
- Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card - Best for earning rewards for dining out
- Wells Fargo Active Cash Card - Best for ATM reward redeeming
How We Evaluate Dining Credit Cards
Picking the right restaurant credit card is a complex process, as you have to take multiple important factors into account.
In order to make this process easier for you, we're showcasing the evaluation methodology we rely on in our reviews, which should help you make an informed decision about which card to go with.
Rewards
The rewards are naturally the main reason anyone goes hunting for the best credit card for dining. As such, they're one of the main ways we differentiate, rate, and compare different cards in our reviews. There are two main ways in which dining out cards reward their users: cashback or a reward points system.
Cashback basically refunds a certain percentage of the money you spend on a qualifying purchase - in this case, dining out. This is an easy way to get a small portion of your funds back. In most cases, the cashback will be between 1% and 5%.
While this may not sound like much, a good cashback program on cards can net you a significant amount of money, especially if you eat out often. There are also customizable reward offers where you can pick which categories earn the most cashback.
Dining cards can also net you reward points. Reward points are tied to the amount of money you spend on eligible purchases as well, with card issuers offering a range of different rates. Reward rates act as multipliers: a 4x rate rewards you with four points per dollar spent, for example.
Many food delivery and fast food joints allow you to claim perks as a dining credit card holder. These points can then be used to get discounts or purchase various services.
Sign-Up Bonus
In addition, most of the cards we review come with a welcome offer that gives some sort of bonus or incentive to new card owners. These bonuses usually involve a hefty number of reward points if you exceed a certain threshold in purchases during your first few months of having the card. Alternatively, you might be credited with free cash to your account.
The bonuses here are far from game-changers and won't impact your financial situation in a meaningful way. However, they can tip the scale when you're trying to decide between two fairly similar cards. It is our recommendation that you take a closer look at each card's bonus options and terms so that you don't miss out on free benefits.
Fees
Unfortunately, in addition to the usual costs a credit card incurs, some of the credit card issuers charge an annual fee for the use of their cards. These fees usually range between $100 and $500, depending on the card's terms. While these fees may be steep, the benefits they bring are usually worth the price.
Read the fine print in your contract and get familiar with the bank's guidelines, there might be additional fees.
If you think the annual fees will be too much for you, don't worry; there are some cards that come with no annual fees whatsoever. Just remember that even with $0 annual charges, you still need to watch out for APR, transaction fees, and balance transfer fees.
Additional Promotions
The right card is not the one that just gives you a hefty cashback or number of reward points when you dine, but one that combines dining benefits with other useful promotions or bonuses.
These can include benefits like free miles, free access to subscription services, hotel credits, various entertainment options, shopping perks, movie tickets, and much more.
Depending on the promotion in question, these benefits can greatly improve a card's functionality or even offset its annual fee if you use the promotions in full. Dining credit cards can also give students a great way to start developing a healthy credit score with perks such as cashback on groceries and bonus meals for dining out.
Business owners can also benefit from a dining cards targeted at entrepreneurs, which can help manage spending for wining and dining with clients.
Credit Score Requirement
Due to the fact that these cards are highly rewarding, they are mostly reserved for individuals with high credit scores. In case your credit score isn't great - under 690, for example - you most likely won't be able to get approved for the cards we've reviewed here. So keep approval requirements in mind before you apply.
Detailed Reviews of Dining Credit Cards
Boasting a 3x reward rate for both dining and travel as well as a generous welcome bonus, the Sapphire Reserve is a godsend for frequent travelers and gourmands. However, be prepared to shell out a hefty sum for its annual fee.
Rewards
The Chase Sapphire Reserve does not provide cashback - it relies on a reward points system via its Chase Ultimate Rewards program. With this card, you'll receive triple points on both dining and travel. While some contenders for the best credit card for dining offer 4x rewards on dining, it's rare to find one that offers such a high rate for both traveling and eating out.
You claim 10 points per $1 spent on Chase Dining purchases as well as hotel stays and car rentals purchased through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. Additionally, you'll earn one point per $1 for all other purchases.
Managing your spendings and personal finance is made even easier with Amex's mobile app that you can install on any mobile phone. You can also use your Amex app to book restaurants through your mobile phone.
Before you start accumulating your travel points, you get up to $300 in statement credits as reimbursement for travel purchases. Dining out, some delivery services, and takeout are considered eligible for these benefits.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve card also comes with premium travel protection benefits which include primary car rental insurance, lost luggage insurance and even trip cancelation insurance.
Redeeming the Rewards
Points gained with the Chase Sapphire Reserve are used through the Ultimate Rewards program. There, they can be used to help finance travel, hotels, events, and gift cards.
When we look at the value of the points gained with the card, it falls in the 1.5-2 cents area. Another feature that makes this card stand out is that you can trade reward points for cashback, albeit at a somewhat low rate of one cent per point.
Welcome Offer
Chase has a really generous welcome offer for new card users. If you spend $4,000 or more in purchases in the first three months after you've opened your account, you'll be credited with 50,000 reward points. When redeemed, this is worth up to $750 in rewards.
The requirement to get the welcome offer isn't really steep - if you use the Sapphire Reserve card at least a few days a week, you can trust it to cross the $4,000 threshold quickly enough.
Fees
The benefits that the Chase Sapphire Reserve brings don't come cheap. The annual fee is $550, plus $75 for each authorized user. The APR is variable and ranges between 16.99% and 23.99%
However, this card has no foreign transaction fees, making it a capital idea for international travelers.
Additional Promotions
This card also comes with a breadth of other promotions that further improve its already impressive offer. These promos include a free one-year DoorDash subscription plus $60 DoorDash credit, a complimentary one-year Lyft Pink membership, trip delay reimbursements, free airport lounge access and more.
Bottom Line
There's no doubt that the Sapphire Reserve is a great card. While it has a relatively high annual fee, its 3x rewards rate and huge number of additional promotions make the high cost more than worth it.
Reasons to Apply
- Great dining rewards
- $300 travel credit
- Generous welcome offer
The Costco Anywhere Visa Card offers a generous multi-tiered cashback program for gas, dining, and travel, without any annual fees. Sounds perfect, right? The only major drawback is that these benefits can only be redeemed once per year by going to one of Costco's warehouses in person.
Rewards
The Costco Anywhere Visa Card offers high-value cashback rewards for dining and gas. Costco has a multi-tiered cashback reward system for different types of purchases.
The Anywhere Visa is a 4% cash back credit card for eligible gas purchases. However, this only applies for the first $7,000 of the year, after which the cashback rate goes down to 1%. When it comes to dining, the cashback percentage is 3%. The same rate applies to eligible travel purchases.
Any purchases made directly from Costco earn 2% cashback, while everything else nets you 1% cashback, as usual.
Redeeming the Rewards
The multi-tiered cashback benefits are the reason we included the Costco Anywhere Visa Card on our list. However, there's one significant pitfall to using this card: you can only redeem the rewards once per year.
The cashback is provided as an annual credit card reward certificate after your February billing statement closes. To make matters worse, you have to go to a Costco warehouse to redeem your cashback, either for cash or merchandise.
Welcome Offer
Unfortunately, there's no signup offer with the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi. This is fairly standard for cards that have no annual fees and/or offer cashback rewards.
Fees
The lack of annual fees is great news for cash-strapped users, especially when you consider that some competitors charge annual fees exceeding $500. However, the card does require you to have a Costco membership, which starts at $60/year.
Like with most of the cards we've reviewed here, this card doesn't have foreign transaction fees. The standard variable APR is 15.24%.
Additional Promotions
While the cashback rewards are certainly hefty, especially for gas, Costco does not have many additional promotions that might lure users in. Yes, you could save a significant amount of money annually through the cashback scheme (up to $280 on gas alone), but some free credit or a subscription service would have been nice.
Bottom Line
Users looking for significant cashback on gas and restaurants will be content with the Costco Anywhere Visa card by Citi, which can help save hundreds of dollars annually thanks to its benefits.
However, while it does not have an annual fee, you still have to pay a Costco membership, which costs $60/120 per year depending on the plan. Unfortunately, the card lacks the juicy additional promotions its competitors usually offer.
Reasons to Apply
- Multi-tiered rewards
- 4% cashback for gas
- Good for saving money
The U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature card offers top-tier cashback bonuses for dining establishments and a more-than-solid reward rate for groceries, gas, and streaming services. While it lacks travel benefits, the fact that there are no annual fees and comes with a low intro APR.
Rewards
When it comes to cashback rewards, the card is nearly unmatched by the competition. When making eligible restaurant, food delivery, and takeout purchases, you'll be rewarded with four points per dollar. This restaurant cashback credit card also gives 2x points for grocery stores, grocery delivery, gas stations, and streaming services like Netflix.
As with most other cards, all other purchases reward you with one point per dollar spent.
Redeeming the Rewards
Reward points accumulated via this card can be redeemed instantly and at any point in time. The points also never expire, so you don't have to worry about spending them on time.
The points are redeemed via the U.S. Bank e-banking platform. They can be used for cashback, travel, merchandise, or gift cards. The minimum number of points you can use is 1,000. Furthermore, there's no limit on how many points you can earn.
Welcome Offer
Another quality that makes this card great is that it has a fairly generous welcome bonus that's really easy to redeem after opening an account. The only requirement is that you spend at least $1,000 in the first 90 days after you get the card. This is easily achievable even by light spenders. After you fulfill this requirement, you'll be credited with 20,000 points.
Fees
The APR is 0% for the first 12 billing cycles for both purchases and balance transfers. After that period, a variable APR of 14.99% to 23.99% applies. There are no foreign transaction fees.
Additional Promotions
Besides the 0% APR for the first 12 billing cycles, you'll also receive $15 credit for annual streaming service purchases for Netflix, Spotify, and some similar services.
Bottom Line
When looking at pure value, the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card is one of the best budget choices around. There's no annual fee and the APR is 0% for the first 12 billing cycles. When you combine that with a 4x reward rate for dining, it's evident that this card is a win-win for avid food lovers.
Reasons to Apply
- Best dining rewards card around
- No annual fee
- Points never expire
If you love dining out, receiving a cashback every time you swipe your credit card at a restaurant could mean more delicious food coming your way. The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card allows just that, giving you 3% cashback at some of the most popular fast-food chains, restaurants, bars, and cafes.
ts partnership program includes - but isn't limited to - Starbucks, Subway, Olive Garden, McDonald's, and The Cheesecake Factory.
Rewards
Unlike other cards that provide you with bonus points you have to redeem for pennies on the dollar, with the Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card, you'll receive 3% cashback on one of the six categories of your choosing: dining, gas, online shopping, travel, drug stores, and home improvement and furnishings.
There's also 2% cashback on grocery shopping and wholesale stores, which will have you covered in case you decide to switch to the "we have food at home" budget approach. You can choose and change your preferred category once per month based on your spending plans to maximize the cashback rewards.
As you can see, Bank of America's Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card is not just a restaurant card. There is even an additional 1% cashback reward for other purchases. The only downside is that the 3% and 2% rewards are capped at $2,500, after which you'll only get 1%.
Redeeming the Rewards
With this card, you'll enjoy excellent flexibility regarding how you would like to redeem your rewards. Probably the most simplistic option would be to redeem your cash rewards (any amount) for statement credits or deposits into eligible Bank of America accounts.
Once you collect $25 in rewards, you can also redeem them as a contribution to a qualifying 529 account with Merrill or ask for it to arrive in your mailbox in the form of a check.
Setting up automatic redemption is also possible.
Welcome Offer
The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card offers a bonus of $200 if you spend $1,000 within the first three months of opening an account. While not as generous as some other offers on this list, this bonus is relatively easy to reach, especially if you eat out often.
Apart from the bonus of $200, this card offers an excellent 0% APR for the first 15 months. This will allow you to gain enough cashback rewards to calm your fear of missing out on fine dining experiences in your life before the interest kicks in.
Fees
There aren't many fees that'll stand between you and all the delicious food with this card. There's no annual fee and no interest for the first 15 months. However, there is a 3% balance transfer fee you should know about if you decide to sign up for an account.
Also, once the introductory period is over, be prepared for the APR to kick in. This card's variable APR ranges from 13.99% to 23.99%.
Additional Promotions
The Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card is also a part of Bank of America's Preferred Rewards program. Based on your combined account balances at Bank of America and Merrill, you could become eligible for a Gold, Platinum, or Platinum Honors rewards level within this program, which can be a great investment.
To enter the program, you need to have a three-month combined average daily balance of $20,000 in your Bank of America deposit accounts or Merrill investment accounts.
If your daily balance exceeds $49,500, you'll be automatically moved from the Gold to the next, Platinum level, while a balance of $100,000 will make you eligible for the Platinum Honors rewards level.
Bottom Line
Overall, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card is an excellent way to have your cake and eat it too. Since you are earning 3% back each time you eat out and there are no hidden fees to worry about, with this card, you'll be able to enjoy a more "lavish" lifestyle more sustainably.
For those who like to keep it simple and avoid calculating the points or keeping track of eligible partners, the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card might be a better option than all restaurant cards combined. This cashback card offers unlimited 2% cashback on all transactions, and you can redeem these rewards at your nearest ATM.
Rewards
You won't find much web content on this card's rewards, as it all boils down to the previously mentioned 2% cashback. Yes, it's that simple - swipe this card anywhere and earn 2% of the transaction back even for transactions that are as low as $1.
No need to calculate how much reward points are worth or constantly check if a particular diner or store is a part of this card's partnership program or not. Furthermore, its rewards don't expire, so you can pile them up and save them for a larger purchase.
Redeeming the Rewards
Redeeming your cashback rewards with this card is as straightforward as it gets. You can redeem your points via your desktop or mobile device, phone, at an ATM, or by heading to the local in-branch. Your rewards can be redeemed as a credit to a qualifying Wells Fargo account, for purchases, in $20 increments at ATMs, or for $25-worth gift cards.
Welcome Offer
Wells Fargo has a similar welcome offer to the one of Bank of America discussed above. New cardholders get a $200 bonus for spending $1,000 within the first three months of opening the account and for the first 15 months, their APR rate for balance transfers will stand at 0%.
Afterward, based on your creditworthiness, your APR will be 14.99%, 19.99%, or 24.99%. Overall, it is a solid and straightforward welcome offer.
Fees
The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card comes with no annual fee, and you'll also benefit from an introductory period of 0% APR for balance transfers for 15 months.
However, note that the APR for cash advances stands at 25.99% and that there's a 3% or $5 (whichever is greater) fee for balance transfers for the first four months, after which this transaction fee climbs to up to 5%, with a minimum of $5.
Penalty fees for late or returned payments, as well as foreign currency conversion fees also apply.
Additional Promotions
The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card also comes with Cell Phone Protection and Zero Liability. The first insures your mobile device up to $600 in case of damage or theft if you pay your monthly phone bill using your Wells Fargo Active Cash%u2120 Card.
The second protects you from unauthorized transactions, so you won't be held responsible for any unauthorized transactions if you promptly report them.
Of course, the card also comes with two Visa Signature® benefits: a 24/7 concierge service, and the Luxury Hotel Collection, which are invaluable when traveling.
Bottom Line
Even though it's not specifically a restaurant card, the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card can be an excellent choice for anyone who loves convenience. Every transaction brings you 2% back and redeeming your rewards is extremely straightforward, making this card an excellent choice not only for people who love dining out but also for any active lifestyle.
A Quick Guide to Dining Credit Cards
When parsing through card offers, you might be taken aback by all the different reward schemes, requirements, and options at your disposal. This is a perfectly normal reaction; credit cards are often an intimidating financial concept as it is, and that's before you try to understand them properly.
That's why we've compiled this small guide to make it easier for you to find your footing and choose the best card for your needs.
Cashback or Reward Points?
One of the most commonly asked questions is: "Should I opt for a cashback or a rewards card?"
Let's go over the advantages and disadvantages of each.
When shooting for a cashback credit card, you'll be choosing a much simpler, carefree option. You get a percentage of your eligible purchases back in cash, without having to worry about how many points you have, how and when can you redeem them, and their value and prerequisites.
With a 3% cash back credit card, for example, it's easy to work out how much money you'll be getting back. Furthermore, cashback cards rarely have annual fees. If they do, they're usually on the cheaper side.
However, as you can see in our reviews above, they rarely have any signup bonuses, and they might also lack additional promotions. Cashback cards are for users who want easily predictable perks and cards that do not require any effort to keep an eye on.
When it comes to rewards cards, the rewards you can redeem with points can sometimes be of really high value, allowing you to gain much more than you would by trying to purchase those services or products with cashback money. You might get free miles, hotel stays, tickets for shows, and much more.
Furthermore, a reward card usually boasts generous welcome bonuses and additional promotions, especially when it comes to high-class cards.
The downside to reward cards is that they're very high-maintenance, requiring you to constantly keep an eye on all the rules for accumulating and redeeming points, timed promotions, and so on. Furthermore, rewards cards usually have annual fees, some of which can get very pricey.
The Worth of Rewards Points
There's no easy answer to this question, and figuring out what works for you is crucial. Firstly, you should take a close look into exactly what you can redeem the points for. Are these services you need? For example, if these are miles or hotel stays, they're not worth much to you if you don't fly often.
You should compare the rewards with the annual fee you'll be paying to get a cost/profit calculation suited for your budget. Our advice is not to force yourself to make purchases just to accumulate reward points.
The rewards system works in your favor if you're already dining out or flying frequently, with the rewards being a way to get some value for the money you spend.
Do Dining Cards Suit You?
Finally, we reach the big question of whether or not you need a dining card in the first place. We'll warn you upfront that getting another credit card is a serious financial decision that's not to be taken lightly. It's up to you to estimate whether a dining credit card is worth it. If you're eating out only every now and then, it's probably not worth the hassle and potential cost.
If you are a frequent restaurant-goer, however, you can definitely make use of rewards will usually include benefits for gas, airline ticket and supermarket purchases. Take these into account as well and make a rough estimate of how much value you'll get by using a dining card.
Thankfully, most credit card issuers include calculators where you can see, based on your monthly expenditures, how much you'll be getting in points or cashback.
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