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Which Dining Credit Card is Best For You?

Last Updated: July 23, 2024
6 min read
Credit card rewards

Table of contents

What are dining credit cards?
Compare the main features of each dining credit card
Find out what qualifies as a dining purchase
Review the redemption options
Get pre-approved before applying

Key points:

  1. Dining credit cards can help you earn rewards for your dining purchases.

  2. Some dining credit cards offer rewards for restaurant purchases and other eligible purchases.

  3. Finding the best dining card for you depends on matching the card’s features with your lifestyle and the kinds of purchases you make with your card.

Whether you’re dining out, picking up food to-go, or at home waiting for delivery, a dining rewards credit card, like the Discover it® Chrome Gas & Restaurant Credit Card, can help you earn rewards on your meal purchases. But there’s more to consider than just the dining rewards when it comes to a dining rewards credit card. To find the best dining credit card for your wallet, you’ll want to review the fine print and consider all the cards’ benefits and drawbacks.

What are dining credit cards?

Dining credit cards, sometimes called restaurant credit cards, are a type of rewards credit card that give you rewards (like cash back) on eligible purchases. You might want a dining rewards card if you eat at restaurants often or frequently order takeout.

Dining credit cards can be part of your rewards strategy to help you earn rewards on your purchases. Pair with other rewards credit cards, like travel rewards cards and cash back cards, and use whichever card offers you the most rewards on each purchase.

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Compare the main features of each dining credit card

Credit cards can offer many benefits for card members, including security features and other perks. Before account opening, consider whether the features of a dining credit card meet your needs.

It’s important to read the fine print so you have a better understanding of the card’s features like:

  • Cash back rewards. Some rewards cards, like the Discover it® Chrome Gas & Restaurant Credit Card, let you earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically.1 You'll still earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
  • Reward maximums. Check to see if there’s a maximum amount of rewards you can earn when making purchases with the credit card, either in combined purchases or in the dining category.
  • 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. If you plan on using your credit card for dining purchases on your next trip abroad, knowing about foreign transaction fees in advance could be helpful. There could also be fees like balance transfer fees, so be sure to read the fine print at account opening. Discover has no foreign transaction fee.

Find out what qualifies as a dining purchase

Whether or not you can earn dining rewards on your purchases depends on what your credit card issuer includes in the dining category and the store’s merchant category code (MCC).

Purchases at restaurants, diners, or coffee shops are typically eligible purchases on dining rewards cards. So, you could earn rewards whether you’re eating in or taking food to go.

Did you know?

Some dining credit cards reward you for dining purchases and could also reward you for other category 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.1

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Remember that not all your food-related purchases may be eligible for rewards. For example, if you’re buying food at an event, a café in a hotel, or somewhere else that your card issuer didn’t register as a restaurant, the purchase may not help you earn dining rewards. Instead, your credit card company may code the transactions based on the larger company—for example, food at hotels could count as hotel purchases. Food delivery app purchases may or may not count as eligible purchases in the dining category either, so check with your card issuer.

If your credit card only rewards you for dining purchases, you could miss out on rewards for gas or travel purchases or cash back on all purchases. The best dining credit card for you depends on whether the card rewards you for the kinds of purchases you make and if the card's features match your lifestyle, among other considerations.

Review the redemption options

If you’re using a restaurant credit card to earn rewards, it can be helpful to understand how to redeem them. 

Review the rewards redemption options from your dining credit card issuer to find out how to use the rewards you earn and about any restrictions, like if the rewards change or expire. With Discover, your rewards never expire.2

Reward redemption can vary depending on the card issuer. You may be able to redeem your rewards for a statement credit, check, bank transfer, or gift card. Be sure to review the program’s rules to see if there are any limitations, such as a minimum redemption requirement.

Get pre-approved before applying

Once you’ve narrowed down the best credit card for restaurants for you, it’s time to apply.

But applying for a new credit card can lead to a hard inquiry, which could hurt your credit score even if the issuer denies your application.

Some credit card issuers may show you if you’re pre-approved for different cards before you fill out an application. So, it can be a good idea to consider a card with pre-approval offers since this usually only requires a soft credit inquiry (which doesn’t hurt your credit score).

Once you’ve applied and gotten your card, you could be on your way to earning rewards for dining purchases. While there may not be one best card for dining out, by comparing the main features of the card and considering which card best matches your needs, you can make a good decision for your wallet.

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  1. 2% Cash Back at gas and restaurants: You earn a full 2% Cashback Bonus® 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, 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. 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. Even if a purchase appears to fit in a 2% category, the merchant may not have a merchant category code (MCC) in that category. Merchants and payment processors are assigned an MCC based on their typical products and services. Discover Card does not assign MCCs to merchants. Certain third-party payment accounts and digital wallet transactions may not earn 2% if the technology does not provide sufficient transaction details or a qualifying MCC. Learn more at Discover.com/digitalwallets. See Cashback Bonus Program Terms and Conditions for more information.

  2. Rewards Redemption: Rewards never expire. We reserve the right to determine the method to disburse your rewards balance. We will credit your Account or send you a check with your rewards balance if your Account is closed or if you have not used it within 18 months. You may be unable to redeem rewards in some limited situations such as when you choose to use an electronic funds transfer to redeem rewards to a new (unverified) deposit account. Any gift card must have a minimum value of at least $5.00 to be redeemed.

  • Legal Disclaimer: This site is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional advice. The material on this site is not intended to provide legal, investment, or financial advice and does not indicate the availability of any Discover product or service. It does not guarantee that Discover offers or endorses a product or service. For specific advice about your unique circumstances, you may wish to consult a qualified professional.