Gas Station Rewards Programs
5 min read
Choosing the Best Restaurant Dining Card for You
7 min read
Last Updated: October 22, 2025
Key Takeaways
- A restaurant rewards credit card lets you earn rewards on purchases when you’re dining out.
- You can maximize rewards by using your dining rewards card at restaurants with loyalty programs.
- Some cards have an annual fee, so it’s important to determine if the rewards you’ll earn outweigh the cost of the annual fee.
Getting rewarded for doing the things you enjoy feels great. That’s one reason why restaurant reward credit cards are so enticing. But with so many options, how can you know which is the best dining credit card for your needs?
Whether you love gourmet dinners or prefer late-night deliveries, the following tips can help you find the best credit card for you and make the most of your dining purchase.
What’s a dining or restaurant credit card?
A restaurant credit card is a type of credit card that earns rewards (like cash back) on eligible restaurant purchases. Some call this a dining card. You might want a dining rewards card if you often eat at restaurants or frequently order takeout.
You can use a dining credit card alongside other rewards credit cards. Choose from dining, travel, and cash back cards to maximize rewards on all of your spending.
What qualifies as eligible dining purchases?
A transaction falls into a certain category based on the seller’s merchant category code (MCC). Your credit card company will use MCCs to sort purchases by type. This makes it possible to set specific reward categories.
Note that not every food purchase will qualify as dining. When you go to a restaurant, diner, or coffee shop, those transactions are typically eligible. But concessions at a baseball game might not be eligible for a dining reward. That’s because the venue might categorize the transactions as entertainment. Some delivery services may also have a different category.
How do you make sure a purchase qualifies for dining rewards? You can speak with customer service or check the documents you received at account opening.
What’s the right dining rewards credit card for you?
Put simply, the best dining credit card for you is the one with terms best suited to your habits, lifestyle, and credit profile. You’ll have to shop around to see what’ll work for you. Some cards are better if you have an excellent credit score, while others are geared toward students applying for their first credit card.
Did you know?
The Discover it® Student Cash Back credit card helps you build your credit with responsible use1 and earn rewards on all your purchases automatically. If you’re approved for a Discover student card, you can earn rewards on every purchase, when you eat at a restaurant, buy gas, and more.
Compare the features of dining credit cards
Credit cards can offer many benefits, including security features, welcome offers, and other perks. Before applying for a card, consider whether the features of a dining credit card meet your needs.
- Cash back rewards. Credit card issuers offer different types of rewards on different cards, so take time to study the membership reward profile of the card you’re considering.
- Other reward categories. For some cards, dining rewards are just one part of the equation. With that in mind, you may want to consider the card’s rewards rate on other purchases. Some rewards cards earn cash back on multiple types of purchases. For example, the Discover it® Chrome Gas & Restaurant Credit Card lets you earn 2% Cashback Bonus® at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.2
- Welcome offer options. Some credit card issuers offer a low introductory APR (Annual Percentage Rate) for a period after account opening, while others may allow you to earn bonus rewards. Discover automatically matches the cash back you’ve earned on your credit card at the end of your first year.3
- Reward maximums. Check to see if there’s a maximum amount of rewards your credit card can earn at restaurants or for combined purchases.
- Redemption options. The best dining rewards credit card for you should offer redemption options that fit into your spending habits. You may be able to redeem rewards as a gift card, deposit into your checking or savings account, or a statement credit you could put toward your credit card debt, for example.
- Annual fee. Some credit cards have an annual fee; for those cards, you could pay the annual fee even if the benefits end or you don’t use them. And the annual fee amount could change in the future. You can avoid this fee with certain cards.
- Other fees. Be aware of other fees associated with your dining card. For example, some cards have a foreign transaction fee, which is a fee for using your card in another country or making purchases from a merchant abroad. If you plan on using your credit card for dining purchases on your next trip abroad, it’s a good idea to use a card with minimal foreign transaction fees. There may also be fees for transactions like balance transfers or cash advances, so it’s important to read the fine print at account opening.
- Card acceptance. If you eat at certain restaurants or chains often, you’ll want to make sure that the chain accepts the restaurant rewards credit card you’re considering. That way you’ll earn rewards on your purchases there.
Maximize your restaurant dining credit card rewards
Some restaurants have loyalty programs that allow repeat customers to earn membership rewards points they can exchange for perks, like free dessert. By using your dining rewards credit card at restaurants with their own loyalty program, you could get Rewards from dining credit card rewards program and the restaurant loyalty program.
Another strategy for making your dining rewards go even further is by taking advantage of coupons or discount codes. Some websites allow you to search for special offers and discounts for purchases at hundreds of retailers nationwide. By using coupons before paying for your meal with your restaurant rewards credit card, you can cut down on the cost of your evening out and still earn rewards.
The bottom line
Once you’ve narrowed down the best credit card for your dining habits, it’s time to apply. However, applying for a new credit card usually triggers a hard inquiry that may hurt your credit score. You may consider a pre-approved credit card offer to avoid hurting your credit. With a new dining restaurant card, you can start earning rewards on everything from your midday coffee run to your weekend brunch.
See if you’re Pre-approved before you apply
Next steps
See if you're pre-approved
Learn about Discover It ® Chrome Gas & Restaurant Card
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Build credit with responsible use: Many factors affect your credit, such as payment history and amount of credit extended and used. Using your credit responsibly may help you build good credit.
2% Cash Back at gas and restaurants: You will earn 2% cash back on your first $1000 in combined purchases at gas stations (stand-alone) and restaurants each calendar quarter. Calendar quarters begin January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1. Purchases at gas stations and restaurants over the quarterly cap, and all other purchases, except as noted below, earn 1% cash back. Gas station purchases include those made at merchants classified as places that sell automotive gasoline that can be bought at the pump or inside the station, and some public electric vehicle charging stations. Gas stations affiliated with supermarkets, supercenters, and wholesale clubs may not be eligible. Restaurant purchases include those made at merchants classified as full-service restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, fast-food locations, and restaurant delivery services. Restaurants located inside of or affiliated with another business, such as hotels or retails stores and establishments classified as a bakery, may not qualify. Purchases must be made with merchants in the U.S. To qualify for 2%, the purchase transaction date must be before or on the last day of the offer or promotion. For online purchases, the transaction date from the merchant may be the date when the item ships. Rewards are added to your account within two billing periods. Capital One uses merchant category codes to determine if a purchase is in one of the additional cash back categories. This means that sometimes a purchase may not earn additional cash back. For example, some food trucks or food carts may use a merchandise code and restaurants in department stores or hotels may use a merchandise or hotel code instead of a dining code. Certain third-party payment accounts and digital wallet transactions may not earn additional cash back if the technology does not provide sufficient transaction details or a qualifying MCC. Capital One is not responsible for merchant category codes used by merchants. Applies to all rewards: Earnings will apply to net purchases (purchases minus any credits or returns). Cash advances, balance transfers, transfers from Discover or Capital One checking or other deposit accounts, and checks used to access your account are not considered purchases and will not earn rewards. Portions of purchases paid with rewards, transactions that do not comply with our policies and/or applicable laws, or any cash you receive in connection with a purchase at the point of sale through Discover's Cash at Checkout feature will not earn rewards. See Your Rewards Program Terms & Conditions and your online account for more details.
Cashback Match: We’ll match all the cash back you’ve earned on your credit card from the day your new account is approved through your first 365 days and add it to your rewards account within two billing periods. You earn cash back only when transactions are processed, which may be after the transaction date. We will not match: rewards that are processed after your match period ends; statement credits; rewards transfers from Discover or Capital One checking or other deposit accounts; or rewards for accounts that are closed. This promotional offer may not be available in the future and is exclusively for new cardholders. No purchase minimums.
Discover Match: We’ll match all the miles you've earned on your credit card from the day your new account is approved through your first 365 days and add it to your rewards account within two billing periods. You earn miles only when transactions are processed, which may be after the transaction date. We will not match: rewards that are processed after your match period ends; statement credits; rewards transfers from Discover or Capital One checking or other deposit accounts; or rewards for accounts that are closed. This promotional offer may not be available in the future and is exclusively for new cardholders. No purchase minimums.
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