Choosing the Best Restaurant Dining Card for You

Enjoy going out to eat? You’re not alone. On average, Americans eat out several times per week and spend thousands of dollars dining out.

So, why not maximize your credit card rewards by using the best credit card for restaurants? Here are a few tips to capitalize on the benefits of restaurant rewards.

1. Use your restaurant rewards credit card with dining loyalty programs

Using your dining rewards credit card at restaurants that also have an independent loyalty program gives you rewards from both the dining credit card rewards program and the restaurant loyalty program.

2. Use coupons with your dining credit card

Group buying and coupon sites showcase coupons and special offers on eligible purchases at hundreds of retailers nationwide.

By using coupons, then paying for your meal with your restaurant rewards credit card, you’ll cut down on the cost of your evening out, and get dining rewards for the amount you’ve spent on the credit card. 

3. What’s the right dining rewards credit card for me?

Put simply, the right rewards 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 will 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.

You may want to earn bonus points for spending at certain locations, earn rewards for travel purchases, receive a welcome offer, or a low intro APR. Before opening an account, it’s helpful to keep these questions in mind:

Where do I eat out most often?

If you eat at certain restaurants or chains often, you’ll want to make sure that the chain accepts the cash rewards credit card you’re considering. That way you’ll earn rewards on your purchases there.

What type of rewards do I want to earn for dining out?

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. For example, are you looking for a card with a welcome offer, such as an intro APR for the first year? Do you want to be able to redeem your rewards in the form of statement credits or cash back? How generously is the card rewarding dining purchases, relative to other cards in the marketplace? The ultimate reward card is the one that best matches your personal spending habits.

Do I want a card with or without an annual fee?

Some dining rewards credit card options may carry an annual fee. For those, you may want to estimate the value of the dining rewards you’d earn on your dining purchases in a typical year, and weigh that against the cost of the card

You may prefer to use a no annual fee credit card so you are entitled to keep any membership reward you earn without an added cost.

Other cards might offer an intro APR like the Discover it® Cash Back credit card. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year, and there’s no limit to how much we’ll match. ¹

Be mindful of intro APR offers. They can save you money if you pay off the balance before the intro APR expires, but if you carry a balance past the introductory period, the regular APR can cause interest to accrue quickly.

Does the card offer other perks or protections that are important to me?

For some cards, dining rewards are just one part of the rewards equation. With that in mind, you may want to consider what other types of purchases the card rewards besides dining, if any, and at what rate. A cash rewards credit card may offer cash back rewards on gas purchases or other eligible purchases.