What’s better than gorging on delicious food at that new restaurant that just opened up? Getting rewarded for it! And that’s precisely what dining credit cards do. But each card has its rules, and who has the time to read all of that? That’s why I did the heavy lifting for you.
Whether you like to tour restaurants from around the world or explore local hotspots, these 👇 credit cards offer excellent perks for dining-related purchases. As a bonus, you get travel- and hotel-related benefits, too.
Let’s explore these dining credit cards one by one and see what they bring to the table! (Get it? 😉)
Top 7 Credit Cards for Dining Locally and Abroad
Did you know that the average American spends at least $2,500 per year on restaurants? For food lovers like us, this amount can quickly rise up.
Enter dining credit cards that help you offset these costs. A sound credit card for dining should have the following:
- Zero or a low annual fee that can be offset with other perks
- Zero foreign transaction fees (for when you want to dine beyond the borders of the U.S.)
- A minimum of 3X reward points for dining
Here’s a review of 7 of the best dining credit cards. Pick the one that offers the best bang for your buck, and savor its yummy rewards.
1. American Express Gold Card
| Annual Fee: $250 | Foreign Transaction Fee: $0 |
| Dining Rewards Rate: 4X | Credit Needed: Good/ Excellent (700-850) |
Rewards Overview:
- Welcome bonus of 60,000 points if you spend $6,000 with your card within the first six months
- 4X Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide
- 4X points on takeout and supermarket spend in the U.S. for purchases of up to $25,000 per year (and 1X points on spends after this)
- 3X points on flights when booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com
- $120 Uber cash credit per year ($10 a month), which can be used on UberEats
- $120 dining credit per year ($10 a month), which can be redeemed at places like GrubHub, The Cheesecake Factory, Wine.com, Milk Bar, Shake Shack, and GoldBelly.
With its impressive 4X Membership Rewards® points (i.e., 4 Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent), the AmEx Gold Card lets you indulge in dining out worldwide, or order in from the comfort of your home. The zero foreign transaction fees make this even more attractive for traveling food connoisseurs.
The hefty sign-up bonus of 60,000 points is another point in AmEx Gold’s favor. According to AmEx’s Rewards Calculator, these points are worth $600 for flight bookings. AmEx also has a lot of travel partners and offers 1:1 transfer of points, so you can get the most bang for your buck if you transfer them strategically to high-value partners.
The Bottom Line: This card is a good choice if you’re a frequent diner and traveler. If you make use of the yearly dining and Uber Eats credit, you effectively bring down the annual fee to $10. But if you’re going to use it rarely, there are better options.
2. Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
| Annual Fee: $95 | Foreign Transaction Fee: $0 |
| Dining Rewards Rate: 3X | Credit Needed: Good/ Excellent (700-850) |
Rewards Overview:
- Welcome bonus of 75,000 points if you spend $4,000 with your card within the first 3 months
- 3X rewards points on dining, takeout, and online groceries (except Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
- 5X points on travel-related purchases made through Chase Travel, and 2X points on other travel purchases
- $50 annual credit on hotel accommodations purchased through Chase Travel
- Complementary 1-year DashPass membership (when activated by Dec 31, 2024)
- 6 months of Instacart+ for free, and a $15 credit quarterly (if activated by July 31, 2024)
The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers great rewards for frequent restaurantgoers and takeout orderers. Its zero foreign transaction fees also make it a great credit card for dining overseas. Moreover, if you already use (or are planning to start using) DoorDash and Instacart+, this card's perks can be very valuable.
The generous welcome bonus alone is worth $900+ when you redeem it through Chase Travel. Chase also allows for 1:1 points transfer to its many partners. The annual $50 hotel credit brings down the annual fee to $45, which can easily be offset in other ways. You also get an annual bonus of 10% on the total purchases you made the previous year, which is great!
The Bottom Line: You should get this card if you’re a globe-trotter and/ or eat out or order in multiple times a week, primarily through DoorDash.
3. Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
| Annual Fee: $0 | Foreign Transaction Fee: $0 |
| Dining Rewards Rate: 3X | Credit Needed: Good/ Excellent (700-850) |
Rewards Overview:
- Welcome bonus of 20,000 points if you spend $1,000 with your card within the first 3 months
- 3X rewards point on dining, takeout, catering, delivery, and gas stations
- 3X rewards points on everyday transit and travel-related purchases
For a $0 annual fee, the 3X dining and travel reward points make the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ an excellent dining credit card, especially for beginners. The sign-up bonus has a $200 redemption value. While this card doesn’t offer many other dining-related perks that come with the AmEx Gold Card or the Chase Sapphire Preferred, the no annual fee makes up for it.
The Bottom Line: You should get this card if you dine out or order takeout somewhat frequently and if having no annual fee is important to you. You can also redeem points on your transit to and from the restaurants (on subway rides, rideshares, parking fees, and gas).
4. Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
| Annual Fee: $0 | Foreign Transaction Fee: $0 |
| Dining Rewards Rate: 3X | Credit Needed: Good/ Excellent (700-850) |
Rewards Overview:
- $200 welcome bonus once you spend $500 with your card within the first 3 months
- 3% cash back on dining and grocery stores (excluding wholesale clubs and superstores)
- 10% cashback on Uber and UberEats +
- 5% cash back on travel bookings made through Capital One Travel
Offering attractive benefits for a $0 annual fee, the Capital One SavorOne credit card is a great choice for travelers and foodies. The 10% cashback on UberEats makes it the best card for those who order takeout frequently. You also earn rewards when you visit restaurants or buy groceries to cook at home. The welcome bonus has a low eligibility threshold, so you can increase your earnings quickly.
The Bottom Line: This card is great for frequent takeout-orderers, diners, and travelers!
5. U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
| Annual Fee: $0 | Foreign Transaction Fee: $0 |
| Dining Rewards Rate: 4X | Credit Needed: Good/ Excellent (700-850) |
Rewards Overview:
- Welcome bonus of 20,000 points if you spend $1,000 with your card in the first 90 days
- 4X rewards points on dining, takeout, and restaurant delivery
- 2X points on grocery stores and delivery (excluding wholesale clubs and superstores)
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card combines the best of both worlds with a zero annual fee and 4X reward points on dining and takeout! You also earn 2X points on grocery store purchases and a $15 annual streaming credit once you’ve charged 11 consecutive months’ worth of streaming expenses to your card. The welcome bonus is worth $200, which is pretty solid.
The Bottom Line: The U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card offers high rewards for no annual fee. It’s a great option for foodies who spend a lot on eating out. You’ll also benefit if you love streaming T.V. shows while munching on your favorite dishes.
6. Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
| Annual Fee: $95 | Foreign Transaction Fee: $0 |
| Dining Rewards Rate: 3X | Credit Needed: Good/ Excellent (700-850) |
Rewards Overview:
- Welcome bonus of 70,000 ThankYou® points if you spend $4,000 with your card in the first three months
- 3X points on dining, supermarkets, gas stations, and travel
- 10X points on hotel, car, and attraction bookings via CitiTravel.com
- $100 annual hotel benefit on a single hotel stay of $500 or more
The Citi Strata℠ Premier card offers decent benefits on dining and supermarket purchases. The welcome ThankYou® points are worth $700 and can be used to book travel through thankyou.com or transfer it to one of Citi’s travel partners for a higher value. If you travel frequently, the $100 annual hotel credit more than covers the annual fee. Since there are no transaction fees, you can enjoy dining out overseas as well.
The Bottom Line: If you’re a traveling foodie, you’ll benefit significantly from this card.
7. Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
| Annual Fee: $95 | Foreign Transaction Fee: $0 |
| Dining Rewards Rate: 4X | Credit Needed: Good/ Excellent (700-850) |
Rewards Overview:
- $300 welcome bonus if you spend $3,000 on purchases with your card within the first three months
- 4% cash back on dining, including bars, cafes, fast-food places, bakeries, and lounges
- 3% cash back on grocery stores (excluding superstores)
- Access to Capital One Dining
The Capital One Savor card offers several excellent and exclusive perks for foodies. Unlike many other dining credit cards, the Capital One Savor gives you a 4% cash back even when you eat at cafes, fast food chains, or bakeries. Additionally, through Capital One Dining and Entertainment, you can easily book reservations at premium restaurants and access unforgettable culinary experiences such as the Taste America® events and the NYC Wine and Food Festival.
The Bottom Line
This card is a great choice for those who enjoy attending exclusive culinary and entertainment events in addition to dining out.
With the right dining credit card, you can satisfy your palate and your wallet. Choose the one(s) that best fit your needs. Which card do you use to dine out?
