Best credit cards for dining of April 2024

Bonus: Earn a one-time $200 cash-back bonus after you spend $500 within the first three months of opening an account.

Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Rewards Rate: Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target); unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply); 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• This card makes date night a lot more exciting with 3% cash back on dining AND entertainment purchases.
• Enjoy rewards even when you decide to cook thanks to 3% earned on grocery purchases, too.
• Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024.
• This card doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee, which is rare for a no-annual-fee cash-back credit card. So feel fee to use it whether dining at your favorite neighborhood joint or at a sidewalk cafe in Paris!

CONS:

• Outside of dining, groceries, streaming and entertainment, this card only rewards 1% cash back. If you spend heavily in other categories, you might want to consider a card with more bonus options.
• This card offers intro 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months of membership (balance transfer fee applies). This is a great perk, but just be aware that once this introductory period expires, regular RegAPR APR will apply. This isn't really a con, per se, but definitely something to be aware of.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

Bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months. That's worth $750 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠.

Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Rewards Rate: Earn 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.

Credit Score Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• Earn points placing those grocery orders online, so that you can save up money and accumulate rewards toward your next vacation.
• Save with a $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.

CONS:

• This card is really designed for people who like to eat out and/or travel often. If you spend a lot of money in other categories or rarely dine out or travel, there are likely better card options for you.
• If you're primary online grocery shopping is with Target, Walmart or wholesale clubs, keep in mind those locations are excluded from earning the 3x points on online grocery store purchases.
• There is an annual fee so before applying, you'll want to consider whether you'll use the card enough to offset this cost.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

The Bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points, worth up to $900 when redeemed through Chase Travel, after you spend $4,000 in the first three months.

Annual Fee: AnnualFees; an additional $75 for each authorized user.

Rewards Rate: Earn 10 points per $1 on Chase Dining purchases through Ultimate Rewards. Earn 10 points on car rentals and hotels as well as 5 points per $1 on flights through Chase Travel (immediately after earning your annual travel reimbursement). Earn three points per $1 spent on dining and on other travel that isn't eligible for the annual $300 travel statement credit reimbursement and one point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

Credit Score Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• If you like points rewards programs, Chase Sapphire Reserve® has one of the best. You can earn 3X points for every dollar spent on any dining purchases and 10 points per $1 on Chase Dining purchases through the Ultimate Rewards portal. If you spend $15,000 a year on typical dining, that would be 45,000 points. That translates to a $450 statement credit or $675 worth of travel expenses if you redeem through Chase Travel.
• Right out of the gate, this card offers a delicious signup bonus of 60,000 points when you spend at least $4,000 over the first three months after the card is activated. That translates to a $600 statement credit or $900 worth of travel when you book through Chase Travel.
• As an added bonus, receive a $300 travel rewards bonus each year on your card activation anniversary.

CONS:

• The perks and rewards are attractive but they come with a steep price tag. The annual fee may be off-putting for many potential applicants. You need to be certain you will make use of the card on a regular basis in order to make full use of the perks and earn enough rewards to offset that fee.
• There is no introductory interest rate for purchases or balance transfers.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

The Bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 with your card within the first three months of opening the account. This bonus can be worth $600 in gift cards or travel rewards if you redeem through thankyou.com. Plus, for a limited time, earn 10 points per $1 on hotels, car rentals and attractions (excluding air travel) booked via the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Rewards Rate:  Earn three points per dollar spent on air travel, hotels and at gas stations as well as supermarkets and restaurants. Earn one point per dollar on all other purchases.

Credit Score Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• The bonus offered can be worth $600 if you redeem your points for gift cards or travel rewards with thankyou.com, which is solid considering the fact that the card carries such a low annual fee.
• Whether you feel like dining out in your hometown or across the globe, you'll earn bonus rewards on it all, and save money thanks to no foreign transaction fees.
• This card offers other bonuses such as $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) through thankyou.com, each calendar year.

CONS:

• There is an annual fee so you'll want to be sure you'll utilize the card enough to offset this cost.
• The ThankYou® Points program isn't as popular or well-known as some other rewards currency programs, but that doesn't mean it isn't valuable and worthwhile.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

Bonus: Earn 25,000 online bonus points when you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days. That's worth $250 in statement credit to cover travel or dining purchases.

Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Rewards Rate: Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all your purchases. Bank of America Preferred Rewards clients earn 25%-75% more rewards on each purchases depending on your tier. Redeem your rewards for statement credit to cover travel or dining purchases.

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• Being able to use rewards to offset restaurant purchases is a rarity. This card could seriously help you pay for food while on vacation – one of those necessary vacation expenses that's difficult to cover with travel rewards.
• A nice flat earning rate means you don't have to overthink when to use this card – just use it for all your puchases!
• Bank of America Preferred Rewards clients could really see their rewards add up quickly given that you earn 25%-75% more on every purchase depend on your client tier.

CONS:

• That 1.5 points per $1 spent is great, but flat-rate rewards cards aren't how you're going to really maximize your earning. Earning top rewards generally happens with tiered cards and strategic use.
• There aren't a ton of extra perks/features with this card, as is common with travel rewards cards. That said, this one doesn't charge an annual fee and is still a solid choice.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

The Bonus: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases within your first six months as a cardholder.

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Rewards Rate: Earn four times the Membership Rewards points at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.; four points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases at supermarkets, then one point per $1); three times the Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com; and one point per $1 on your other eligible purchases.

Credit Score Needed:  CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• This card is tailor made for folks who prefer to let others do the cooking. Cardholders can earn 4X points for every dollar spent on dining. This includes eating in, takeout and home delivery.
• If you do happen to like cooking for yourself, you can also earn 4X points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per year.
• Another tasty perk comes in the form of an annual $120 ($10 a month) dining credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with your card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations (enrollment required)
• Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.

CONS:

• Membership has its privileges but they come with a price tag. The annual fee is substantial if you don't plan to make regular use of the card.
• As you may know, American Express encourages its members to pay off their balance every month. You do also have the option of "paying over time."
• Another drawback, travel rewards must be redeemed through amextravel.com.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

The Bonus: Earn a $200 online cash back bonus after you spend at least $1,000 in the first 90 days after opening account.

Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Rewards Rate: Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice - now with expanded categories, automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases. Choose 3% cash back on gas and EV charging station, online shopping/cable/internet/phone plan/streaming, dining, travel, drug store/pharmacy or home improvement/furnishing purchases. You can update your choice category for future purchases once each calendar month using the mobile banking app or online banking, or do nothing and it stays the same.

Credit Score Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• With this card you have the option to update your choice category each month. So say you know there's a month you usually eat out a lot – December, perhaps, or maybe there's a month with several birthdays to celebrate, or maybe an anniversary– but then there are months where you spend heavily in other categories and hardly eat out at all: enter the choice category. Choose dining when you've got a lot of dining dates on the calendar, and whatever else best suits you other months. Or keep it dining all year long and enjoy all the restaurant meals you want, knowing your getting rewarded for each dollar spent on dining out!
• If you’re a Bank of America Premier Rewards member you could earn up to 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase made.

CONS:

• The ability to choose a choice category is great, but remember, you can only change this category once per month.
• This offer is very competitive, but earning additional potential bonus cash back (25-75% more on each purchase) is reserved for those who are Bank of America Preferred Rewards clients.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

The Bonus: Earn a $200 bonus after you spend just $500 in the first three months.

Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Rewards Rate: Earn 5% back on the first $1,500 spent in rotating quarterly categories each time you activate. You also earn 5% back on travel purchased through Chase, 3% back at restaurants, 3% back at drugstores and 1% back on your other purchases. Check out the current quarterly categories.

Credit Score Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• This card offers a healthy 3% cashback on all forms of dining, including takeout and home deliveries.
• If you dine out regularly, the sign-up bonus is easy money in your pocket. You earn $200 for spending just $500 over the first three months after your account is opened.
• This card has a $0 annual fee, meaning all the cash back you earn goes straight into your wallet.

CONS:

• This card has a 3% foreign transaction free. You might consider leaving it at home and tucking another card in your wallet when you travel out of the country for business or pleasure.
• You need good to excellent credit to be approved. And depending on that credit worthiness, your starting interest rate could be on the high side. If you tend to carry a substantial balance, month-to-month, your cash back could easily be devoured by interest payments.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

The Welcome Offer: Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of account opening. This bonus can be worth $200 toward merchandise, gift cards, cash back, travel and more. Plus, you can save on interest with an intro 0% APR for 12 billing cycles balance transfers made within the first 60 days and on purchases (then RegAPR).

Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Rewards Rate: Earn 4X points on dining, takeout, and restaurant delivery; 2X points on streaming services; 2X at grocery stores and gas stations/EV charging stations (discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs excluded effective September 9, 2024); 1X point on all other eligible purchases.

Credit Score Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• This card has a $0 annual fee and doesn't charge foreign transaction fees. This makes it an attractive addition to your wallet when traveling out of the country.
• U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card is a terrific card for foodies. You earn 4X points for each dollar spent on dining, takeout, and delivery. You also earn 2X points on your grocery store, gas station, EV charging station and streaming services purchases (discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs excluded effective September 9, 2024).
• To help get you started piling up points, you will earn 20,000 bonus points for spending just $1,000 over the first 90 days after the card is activated. The redemption rate is a penny a point when redeeming cash back, travel, gift cards or merchandise. That means if you make $3,000 in dining purchases over the first three months you have the card, you will have earned 32,000 points when you consider the welcome bonus, which translates to $320 in redemption value.
• This card also offers an introductory interest rate of 0% for the first 12 billing cycles on balance transfers made within the first 60 days and on eligible purchases (then, RegAPR).

CONS:

• You need excellent credit (720 or above) to be considered for this card. Not necessarily a con for everyone, but perhaps for someone with a low credit score.
• After the introductory rate expires, your interest rate will jump to RegAPR, depending on credit worthiness.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

The Bonus: New cardholders can earn a bonus of $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening.

Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Rewards Rate: Earn 5% cash back on purchases at office supply stores and purchases of internet, cable and phone services (up to $25,000 in combined spending each account anniversary year). Also earn 2% back on the combined $25,000 spending each account year on gas station and restaurant purchases. Earn 1% back on your other purchases as well as in the bonus categories once you reach the spending cap.

Credit Score Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• No annual fee is always a good place to start with any credit card.
• This card offers an introductory rate of 0% on all purchases for 12 months (then, RegAPR). This can save a lot of money on interest.
• By way of a signup bonus, you get the chance to earn $350 cash back when you spend at least $3,000 over the first three months, and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 in the first six months. Not too shabby for a no-annual-fee card.
• You also earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 (combined expenditures) you spend on office supplies, internet, cable and phone service.

CONS:

• After the 12-month introductory rate expires, your interest rate will jump to RegAPR.
• You earn just 2% cash back on the first $25,000 (combined) spent each year at restaurants and gas stations. Other cards have a higher rewards offer on dining purchases.
• There is no balance transfer introductory rate.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.