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Credit Cards

16 Best Dining Credit Cards of October 2026

UpdatedSeptember 21, 2026

At The Points Guy, our goal is to help you maximize your travel experiences while minimizing spending. While we do receive compensation through our credit card application links, ads and clearly indicated sponsored content, our editorial content, points valuations and card analyses are entirely our own. Learn more about our advertising policy and product review methodology.

Best for the well-traveled foodie

American Express® Gold Card

American Express® Gold Card

  • Intro offerAs High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.
  • Annual fee$325
  • You'll earn1-5x
  • Regular APRSee Pay Over Time APR
at American Express's secure site.
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.

If you’re a foodie who spends a lot of time dining out, you should use one of our picks for the best dining credit cards to maximize your rewards and score other great benefits such as access to hard-to-get reservations and more.

Some cards not only offer generous cash back and rewards points on dining out but also have you covered when you order takeout and delivery when you’re short on time or not up to cooking. Plus, some of the options on this list also double as great entertainment and travel cards, too, making it even easier to quickly rack up rewards.

Comparing the best dining cards

MoreDetails

“More details on the best dining credit cards”

How we rate

Dining is an important bonus category where it's common to spend frequently. We rated the best cards to use at restaurants based on several factors, including earning rates, the annual fee associated with holding the card and additional benefits. To learn about how TPG evaluates and chooses cards for our roundups, check out our methodology here.
  • Earning rates

    We included cards with strong earning rates when dining out to utilize on purchases at restaurants.

  • Annual fee

    Our top picks range from no-annual-fee cards to those with higher fees and additional benefits to suit various budgets.

  • Welcome bonus

    The cards selected include generous welcome offers that can be met at various spending thresholds, depending on your unique spending habits.

  • Redemption options

    We selected cards that earn across a variety of currencies, such as transferable points and miles, cash back and hotel points. These open up various redemption options for your spending on dining and restaurants.

  • Added benefits

    Many of the dining cards we picked come with additional benefits, such as credits and travel protections.

Cards with dining perks are a favorite among TPG readers

Among our readers, a staggering 80% have a credit card that features dining perks, including elevated earning rates on these purchases. In fact, our readers are such big fans of cards that offer dining benefits that another whopping 75% rank bonus earnings on dining purchases as a top-three priority when earning credit card rewards.

This information was collected via opt-in surveys of TPG’s roughly 900,000 daily newsletter subscribers in May-June 2024. All data is anonymous and aggregated; you can view our full methodology for collecting and utilizing data here.

How to choose a dining credit card

Look for a credit card offering attractive rewards or cash back for dining expenses. Consider the earning rate and whether it works with your dining spending habits. Some cards may offer higher rewards for dining, such as 2 or 3 points per dollar spent, allowing you to earn more points more quickly. Ensure the card is accepted at your favorite restaurants, cafes and bars, then evaluate the annual fee associated with the card. Compare the benefits and rewards offered against the fee to determine if it provides sufficient value. Finally, check if the card earns other benefits you may also value, such as travel or ride-hailing service credits.

Here are some of the main points to consider when choosing a dining credit card:

  • 1
    Sign-up bonus

    Seek out a card for dining that comes with a generous sign-up bonus. The reward you earn from meeting the bonus-earning threshold can be used for future travel or to pay down a balance, in the case of cash-back cards. Be sure you pick a card with a spending threshold that you can reach and with a currency you'll find valuable.

  • 2
    Annual fee

    The dining cards featured come with various annual fees — from the higher end to the lower end. However, cards with higher annual fees often also offer strong protections on shopping and travel, in addition to other benefits. If you aren't interested in paying annually for your dining credit card, we included options for that as well.

  • 3
    Bonus categories

    The best cards to use for dining will typically earn bonus points, miles or cash back for eating out at restaurants. However, many of these cards also earn more in other bonus categories, such as supermarkets, travel or entertainment. Work to find a card that will maximize your earnings across the categories where you spend most frequently.

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Can you earn with a dining rewards program and credit card? - The Points Guy

Get rewards for eating at restaurants

Pros + cons of dining credit cards

  • Pros

    • Using dining credit cards can help boost your credit when used responsibly
    • A credit card that earns more at restaurants can help you quickly earn rewards to use toward travel and more
    • Many credit cards for dining also have bonuses for other spending, such as travel and entertainment
    • Credit cards often provide purchase, theft and fraud protection
  • Cons

    • Dining credit cards can encourage overspending
    • Carrying a balance on your credit card for restaurants can negatively impact your credit score
    • Some dining credit cards do not earn bonus rewards in all categories, so you may need other credit cards to boost your earnings in other categories
    • Some credit cards for dining require a good credit score, which means those who haven't had a credit card before (or have a low score from past spending) may not be approved

Frequently asked questions

  • Which credit card is best for dining?

    To maximize your rewards for eating out and food delivery, as well as saving you money on dining-related and other travel expenses, these are the best credit cards for dining:

  • Do all restaurants count as dining for rewards credit cards?

    Most rewards credit cards categorize traditional sit-down restaurants, cafes and fast food establishments as dining for rewards purposes. The categorization of restaurants can vary depending on the credit card issuer and the merchant category codes they use to classify transactions.

    To determine whether a specific restaurant qualifies as dining for rewards on your credit card, you can check the credit card's terms and conditions or contact the issuer directly. It can provide specific information on categorizing dining expenses and which restaurants are eligible for rewards or benefits.

  • Do bars count as restaurants for credit cards?

    Generally, if a bar primarily focuses on serving food and offers a dining experience, it is more likely to be categorized as a restaurant for credit card purposes. However, suppose a bar primarily serves alcoholic beverages and does not offer a significant food menu or dining experience. In that case, some credit card issuers may not classify it as a restaurant.

    To determine whether a specific bar is considered a dining establishment for your credit card, you can check with the credit card issuer or review the merchant category code associated with the bar's merchant account.

  • Do dining rewards apply to takeout and delivery?

    Credit card dining rewards often apply to takeout and delivery purchases. As the popularity of takeout and food delivery services has increased, credit card issuers have recognized this trend and expanded their dining rewards to include these types of transactions. However, it's important to note that each credit card's terms and conditions may vary.