Are you tired of eating your favorite food at a costly price? If yes fret not, try the best U.S credit cards for restaurants and dining that are designed to elevate your rewards at the restaurants. As per the report of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, consumer spending on food away from home increased from $1.16 trillion in 2021 to $1.34 trillion in the year 2022. With the surge in the demand for prepared meals, the cost also ramped up. To tackle this problem, you can use credit cards to turn your scrumptious meal into valuable cashback and points.
Multiple credit card issuers offer five-star credit cards for foodies to devour. The rewards are especially an easy way to squeeze the maximum value of the best-in-class credit cards. For you to leverage the best reward card for dining we have compiled a list of the 10 best U.S credit cards for restaurants and dining based on the average American’s annual budget along with their perks and drawbacks. Let’s dig deeper into the details of each credit card.
Table of Contents
Quick Overview – 10 Best U.S Credit Cards for Restaurants and Dining
- American Express® Gold Card – Overall best card for dine-in and delivery
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card – Best for earning Chase Ultimate Reward points
- Chase Sapphire Reserve Card – Best card for fine dining at restaurants
- U.S Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card – Best no-annual fee card with higher rewards
- Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card – Best to get higher dining and grocery rewards
- Citi Custom Cash® Card – Best card for flexible bonus categories
- American Express® Green Card – Best card to gain Membership rewards on dining and travel
- U.S Bank Cash +® Visa Signature® Card – Best card for fast food delivery
- DoorDash Rewards Mastercard® – Best card for door dash delivery
- Aeroplan® Credit Card – Best for earning airline miles at restaurants
Charting the Best U.S Credit Cards for Restaurants and Dining
| Best U.S Credit Cards for Restaurants and Dining | Best for | Annual fee | Credit score | Welcome bonus |
| American Express® Gold Card | Overall best card for dine-in and delivery | $250 | 700+ | Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases in your first 6 months of card membership. |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Best for earning Chase Ultimate Reward points | $95 | 700+ | Earn 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve Card | Best card for fine dining at restaurants | $550 | 700+ | Earn 80,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. |
| U.S Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card | Best no-annual fee card with higher rewards | $0 | 670+ | Earn 4 points per dollar on travel and dining worldwide, 2 points per dollar on mobile wallet purchases, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. |
| Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card | Best to get higher dining and grocery rewards | $95 | Good or excellent credit | Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, grocery stores, entertainment, and popular streaming services, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. |
| Citi Custom Cashâ„ Card | Best card for flexible bonus categories | $0 | Good or excellent credit | Earn 5% cash back on your top spending category each billing period up to $500 per month, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. |
| American Express® Green Card | Best card to gain Membership rewards on dining and travel | $150 | Good or excellent credit | Earn 3 Membership Rewards points per dollar on dining worldwide, travel, and transit in the U.S., and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. |
| U.S Bank Cash +® Visa Signature® Card | Best card for fast food delivery | $0 | Good or excellent credit | Earn 5% cash back on mobile wallet purchases, 2% cash back on gas stations and grocery stores, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. |
| DoorDash Rewards Mastercard® | Best card for door dash delivery | $0 | Good or excellent credit | Earn 2% cash back on DoorDash and eligible DashMart purchases, 3% cash back on dining and entertainment, 1% cash back on groceries, gas and transit, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. |
| Aeroplan® Credit Card | Best for earning airline miles at restaurants | $95 | Good or excellent credit | Earn 3 miles per dollar spent on eligible travel, dining, and gas, and 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases. |
1. American Express® Gold Card
Welcome Bonus: Earn 60,000 points
Annual Fee: $250
Rewards Rate : 1x-4x
Recommended Credit: Good to Excellent (670-850 )
Why this card is preferred?
The card is at the top of the list of best U.S credit cards for restaurants and is packed with extra benefits and perks. American Express® Gold Card offers 4 points per dollar on dining at restaurants and U.S supermarkets after making purchases of up to $25,000 in each calendar year. Foodies and travelers can also get up to $120 annual dining credit at Grub hub, The Cheesecake Factory, Wine.com, Milk Bar , Goldbelly, and can easily select Shake Shack Locations.
The benefits of one the best U.S credit cards for restaurants does not stop here as it also offers $10 per month in Uber Cash that can be utilized on Uber Eats order of rides. The annual fee may feel intimidating but the perks make it a strong contender for all the food purchases.
| Pros | Cons |
| Greater reward-earning possibilities in restaurants and U.S supermarkets | High APR to pay over time |
| Points are easy to transfer | Difficult credit redemption |
| Bonus earning on flights | |
| Offers monthly food subscription credit |
2. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Welcome Bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points
Annual Fee: $95
Rewards Rate: 1x-5x
Recommended Credit: Good (700-749)
Why this card is preferred?
The $95 annual fee Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers great value on dining and travel purchases. Being one of the best U.S credit cards for restaurants, it offers triple rewards on dining that include eligible delivery and take-out services. The competitive 3x points on dining worldwide with no foreign transaction fees is one of its greatest benefits. Moreover, the card earns 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target Walmart, and Wholesale Clubs) and offers other valuable benefits to save a huge sum of money.
Cardholders can easily redeem points at 1.24 cents for each travel booked through Chase and can transfer points to 14 valuable Chase hotel partners and airlines. As per the latest offers given by one of the best U.S credit cards for restaurants, you can enroll for a complimentary DoorDash Membership until 31 Dec, 2024.
| Pros | Cons |
| Points hold 25% more value when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards | No 0% introductory APR |
| Multiple bonus categories | Best earning rates are only for booking through Chase |
| No foreign transaction fees | |
| Offers annual hotel statement credit |
3. Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
Welcome Bonus: Earn 60,000 points
Annual Fee: $550
Rewards Rate: 1x-10x
Recommended Credit: Good to Excellent (720-850 )
Why this card is preferred?
The Chase Sapphire Reserve Card is a treasure trove for all the foodies and frequent travelers seeking for first-rate rewards. With this card, you get 3x points on dining and travel with 1 point per dollar for all the other purchases. But if you purchase through Chase you can get access to high-end restaurants and can easily earn 10 x points with Chase Dining. Not only this, being one of the best U.S credit cards for restaurants you can get exclusive reservations for fine dining experience with your loved ones.
When the points are redeemed for cash and gift cards via Chase Ultimate rewards, they are worth 1.5 cent each in comparison with 1 cent in the other case. Being the Chase-specific and best U.S credit cards for restaurants , you get greater value from the rewards by transferring points to Chase airline and hotel partners. Although the card comes with hefty annual fees but the added credit benefits are worth getting.
| Pros | Cons |
| Offers sizzling sign-up bonus | Annual fee is a whopping high |
| Multiple bonus categories | Primarily more useful for frequent travelers only |
| Various point transfer partners | |
| Luxury perks on travel and protection |
4. U.S Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
Welcome Bonus: Earn 20,000 bonus points
Annual Fee: $0
Rewards Rate: 1x-4x
Recommended Credit: Good to Excellent (750-850 )
Why this card is preferred?
Only few U.S cards offer great value with $0 annual fee, U.S Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card is one of them. Being in the list of best U.S credit cards for restaurants, it offers industry-leading earnings on dining. With this card, you can easily earn 4x points per dollar on dining, takeout and delivery on various restaurants. The huge ongoing rewards are also offered on streaming services, grocery stores, EV charging stations.
The other cards that match its restaurant rewards come with a high annual fee, Apart from the bonus categories you can get 1 point per dollar on all the other eligible purchases. Being one of the valuable option among the best U.S credit cards for restaurants, the card is made of recycled plastic to promote an eco-friendly environment.
| Pros | Cons |
| High 4x points on restaurants and delivery | Charges balance transfer fee |
| Charges no annual fee | No bonus reward program for entertainment |
| No foreign transaction fees | |
| No penalty APR |
5. Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Welcome Bonus: $300 cash back
Annual Fee: $95
Rewards Rate: 1%-10%
Recommended Credit: Good (700-749 )
Why this card is preferred?
For all those looking for a solid reward structure for dining with no annual charges, the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is the viable option. Being the first-class option among the best U.S credit cards for restaurants, it pays unlimited 3% cash back on restaurants, dining, entertainment, streaming services, and grocery stores. Not only this, you can earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars that are booked through Capital One Travel.
For all those who are more into Entertainment purchases, this card offers 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases. The benefits do not stop here as being on the list of best U.S credit cards for restaurants it offers 10% cashback on Uber Eats for those who get their food frequently delivered at their door steps.
| Pros | Cons |
| Offers 4% cashback on dining and restaurants | Offers no introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers |
| No foreign transaction fees | High standard APR |
| A great option for beginners | |
| Entertainment is the rare reward category |
6. Citi Custom Cash® Card
Welcome Bonus: $200 cash back
Annual Fee: $0
Rewards Rate: 1%-5%
Recommended Credit: Good to Excellent (630-850)
Why this card is preferred?
This card comes with $0 annual fee and pays 5% cash back on the highest spending category each month. You are eligible for this cash back if you spend a total amount of $500 in each billing cycle. If you start spending heavily on items then with one of the best U.S credit cards for restaurants you can earn $25 cashback bonus. For all those who prefer to dine out a lot each month can easily get 5% cashback on restaurants and dining
The plus point of this card is that you don’t need to keep an eye on activating bonus categories each month instead the bonus cash automatically applies to the category you spend the most each month. Apart from the highest spending category, you can also earn 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases.
| Pros | Cons |
| Earn 5% cash back on the highest spending category each month | 5% cashback is limited to top spending category |
| A good welcome bonus if you meet a certain threshold | 3% foreign transaction fee when traveling outside U.S |
| Charges no annual fee |
10 Best Cashback Credit Cards for 2024
Cashback credit cards are a great way to earn rewards across multiple categories including shopping, dining, and travel. To lessen the strain on your wallet the best 10 cashback credit cards provide rewards rates up to 5% to facilitate a large user base. When you scroll through the details you will find valuable cash back credit cards suitable for multiple use cases.
7. American Express® Green Card
Welcome Bonus : Earn $40,000 points
Annual Fee: $150
Rewards Rate: 1x-3x
Recommended Credit: Good (700-749)
Why this card is preferred?
The American Express® Green Card is a valuable option for foodies and travelers who want to earn great membership points. The green card from Amex is favorable choice for those who savor experiences while trying out new restaurants with friends and family. Although the annual fee is a bit steep the perks are worth its price. Being one of the solid options among the best U.S credit cards for restaurants you can easily earn 3 points per dollar spent on restaurants, travel, and all other transit purchases.
With this card, you can get $189 CLEAR Plus and $100 Lounge Buddy credits. In addition, you can get 1 point per dollar on all the other eligible purchases. In brief with one of the best U.S credit cards for restaurants you could earn generous Membership points across a swath of categories.
| Pros | Cons |
| High reward rate on dining and travel | Offers no introductory APR |
| Flexible point transfer and redemption options | No balance transfer option |
| No foreign transaction fee | Limited features and perks in comparison with other best U.S credit cards for restaurants |
8. U.S Bank Cash +® Visa Signature® Card
Welcome Bonus: $200 cash back
Annual Fee: $0
Rewards Rate: 1%-5%
Recommended Credit: Good to Excellent (700-850)
Why this card is preferred?
The U.S Bank Cash +® Visa Signature® Card is specially designed for all those who strategically juggle with the card to get the best out of it . Being in the list of the best U.S credit cards for restaurants, it lets you choose 2 categories in each quarter. On the chosen category you get 5% cashback with spending of $2,000 in each quarter. For all those who devour food can choose restaurants and dining category to get the best return on every dollar they spend on food. In addition, it also offers 5% cash back on hotel, car reservations that are directly in the Rewards Center.
The fringe benefit of this card is its 0% introductory APR for 18 billing cycles on all the eligible purchases, followed by variable APR of 19.49% -29.49%. The card comes with no annual fee hence it’s an impressive choice for a large user base.
| Pros | Cons |
| Offers high rewards on the chosen categories | Complicated rewards |
| Bonus categories | Difficult to keep an eye on bonus categories |
| Rewards on prepaid travel |
9. DoorDash Rewards Mastercard®
Welcome Bonus: Free Dash Pass for a year
Annual Fee: $0
Rewards Rate: 1%-4%
Recommended Credit: Good to Excellent (690-850)
Why this card is preferred?
If you are big fan of DoorDash with frequent takeout and food delivery orders then DoorDash Rewards Mastercard® deserves a special place in your wallet. Being one of the best U.S credit cards for restaurants it offers free subscription to the DoorPass along with a solid reward structure. The card offers 4% cash back on DoorDash and Caviar orders, 3% per dollar on dining when directly purchased through restaurants with on earning caps .
The benefits are not restricted to food lovers but it also offers 2% cash back on purchases made through grocery stores and 1% cashback on all the other purchases. Being in the list of best U.S credit cards for restaurants the card comes with no annual and foreign transaction fees.
| Pros | Cons |
| Offers high rewards on the chosen categories | No introductory APR |
| Charges no annual fees | Requires good to excellent credit card score |
| Flexible rewards redemption | |
| Comes with World elite Mastercard benefits |
10. Aeroplan® Credit Card
Welcome Bonus: Earn up to 10,000 bonus points
Annual Fee: $95
Rewards Rate: 1x-3x
Recommended Credit: Good to Excellent (690-850)
Why this card is preferred?
Aeroplan® Credit Card is specially designed for all the big spenders to earn greater rewards. This card is a viable option for Air Canada passengers who spend a huge sum of money on food and travel. You can easily earn 3x points on each dollar you spend on restaurants, grocery stores, and Air Canada directly. With one of the best U.S credit cards for restaurants, you can redeem points for international and domestic flights while paying an annual fee of $95.
If you spend $20,000 on purchases in the first 12 months then you can get $20,000 on purchases. Moreover, apart from the prescribed categories you can earn 1x point for each dollar you spend on all other purchases.
| Pros | Cons |
| Greater reward earnings | Limited redemption options |
| No foreign transaction fee | Includes less dining benefits in comparison with the other best U.S credit cards for restaurants |
| Offers extensive travel benefits for AIR Canada flyers |
Frequently Asked Questions
 Which credit card gives the most points for dining and restaurants?
The American Express® Gold Card offers the greatest points for dining and restaurants. This card comes with best travel rewards that include 4x points on food purchases  that include delivery and dine out as well.
Which credit card offers high cash back for restaurants?
The Capital One SavorOne Rewards Credit Card offers the highest cash back on purchases at restaurants. Although the card comes with annual fee but it offers 5% cash back in your highest spending category. If dining is your largest expense, then you can earn great cash back with this card with a spending cap of $500 each month.
Which Chase card is most preferable for restaurants?
Chase has an extensive range of cards that offer eye-popping discounts and cashback on a wide range of categories. No matter if its food or travel the Chase lineup caters the needs of all sorts of users. If you are looking the best card in the dining category then the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , Chase Sapphire Reserve Card is the best choice for you .
