Best Cards for Earning Points on Dining Out

If dining out, ordering takeout, or using delivery services is part of your routine, a dining rewards card can help you turn those meals into valuable points or cash back. The best dining cards offer high earning rates on restaurants, cafés, and even food delivery apps, making it easy to enjoy rewards with every meal. Some cards also come with dining credits and extra perks at popular restaurants, offering real value alongside the experience.

🏆 Best for Restaurants

American Express® Gold Card

Annual Fee: $325

Rates & Fees|Terms Apply

As high as 100kBonus Points

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

The American Express Gold Card is a premium card that offers lucrative rewards for dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets, along with valuable travel benefits, making it an excellent choice for foodies and frequent travelers. While it does come with an annual fee, the card's combination of rewards and perks can provide substantial value to those who frequently dine out and travel.

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🏆 Our Most Popular Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Annual Fee: $95

100,000Bonus Points

LIMITED TIME OFFER

Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is a popular travel rewards credit card known for its excellent earning potential—we love it at Daily Drop! Cardholders can redeem their points for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal or transfer them to various airline and hotel loyalty programs for added flexibility.

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🏆 Best for Travel Credits

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Annual Fee: $795

100,000Bonus Points

Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a premium travel credit card tailored for frequent travelers seeking luxury perks and rewards. With a focus on travel benefits, this card offers a generous welcome offer, airport lounge access, travel statement credits, and valuable rewards through the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, making it an excellent choice for travelers.

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🏆 Best for Gas Stations

Citi Strata Premier® Card

Annual Fee: $95

60,000Bonus Points

Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.

The Citi Strata Premier is the latest and greatest card from Citi. It features solid earning rates on everyday spending categories such as air travel, hotel purchases, restaurants, supermarkets, gas, and even EV charging stations. With a low annual fee, we view it as a solid, mid-tiered card no matter if you like to earn rewards on travel or just on your everyday activities.

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Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Annual Fee: $0

200Bonus Points

Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus when you spend $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.

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🏆 Best for Dining and Entertainment

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Annual Fee: $0

Rates & Fees|Terms Apply

$250 cash bonusBonus Points

LIMITED TIME OFFER

Earn $250 Cash Back after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening

The Capital One Savor card is tailored for foodies and entertainment enthusiasts, providing generous cash back on dining and entertainment purchases, making it perfect for those who love dining out and experiencing entertainment.

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Which Card is Right for You?

If dining out is your favorite way to treat yourself or your go-to for convenience, a card with elevated dining rewards is the way to go. Look for cards that give 3x to 4x points or more on dining, and see if they also offer extra perks like dining credits or travel benefits. Bonus points if the card earns well on other categories like groceries or travel!

Other Ways to Earn

Eating out just got even better—now, you can earn major points or cash back every time you grab a bite. From casual takeout to fine dining, some cards let you earn 3x, 4x, or even 5x on dining purchases, making every meal a chance to stack rewards. Whether you're a foodie or just love the convenience of takeout, there’s a card to match your dining habits.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Earn high rewards on every restaurant meal, takeout, or delivery

Great for foodies or those who frequently eat out

Pairs well with cards that earn more on groceries and travel

Cons

Rewards may not apply to certain types of food purchases (like bars or fast food)

Limited earning potential if you don't eat out often

FAQs

Does takeout or delivery count for dining rewards?

Yes, as long as the purchase codes as a dining or restaurant expense, takeout and delivery usually count.

Do I get rewards at cafes and bars?

Many cards include cafes, coffee shops, and bars under the dining umbrella, but it can vary.

Is there a cap on dining rewards?

Some cards cap the amount you can earn in dining rewards annually, but many do not.

Why Trust Daily Drop?

At Daily Drop, our editorial team is made up of seasoned travel and credit card experts who have spent years mastering travel rewards and testing the best strategies firsthand. Founder Nate Buchanan, of Kara and Nate, has personally earned and redeemed millions of points and miles over the past 10+ years, saving tens of thousands of dollars on travel. Our team shares similar hands-on experience, ensuring our recommendations are practical, tested, and built on real-world knowledge. After all, we wouldn’t be Daily Drop if we weren’t practicing what we preach.

Our independent reviews break down rewards, perks, fees, and overall value to help you make informed decisions. We also analyze audience data, considering reader engagement and trends, so our recommendations reflect what actually matters to you.

While we may earn a commission if you apply for a card through our site, our opinions are our own — based solely on expert analysis and firsthand experience, not influenced by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Our goal is simple: helping you maximize your rewards and travel smarter.

Read our full methodology for more information.

Authors

Written by: McKay Moffitt

Writer

Edited by: Tiffany Eastham

Writer & Editor

Updated:Mar 6, 2025