Choosing the Best Restaurant Dining Card for You

6 min read

Last Updated: May 6, 2025

Table of contents

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.

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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?

Discover^® offers student credit cards that can help you build a credit history¹ and earn rewards on all your purchases automatically. If you’re approved for a Discover student card, you can earn cash back rewards when you eat at a restaurant, buy gas, and more.

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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. For example, Discover has no annual fee on any of our 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. Discover has no foreign transaction fee. 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.

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