Best Credit Cards for Dining and Restaurants 2026
Dining is one of the easiest categories to earn outsized rewards in. Cards earn 3x to 5x on restaurant spending versus 1x to 2% on general purchases. At $400/month in dining, the difference between a 3x card and a 1.5x card is $108 per year.
Annual Dining Earnings Comparison
| Card | Fee | Dining Rate | Delivery Apps | Cap | $200/mo dining | $400/mo dining | $600/mo dining |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Gold Card Best Raw Dining Rate | $250 | 4x dining worldwide | Yes (most delivery apps) | None | ~19,200 pts | ~38,400 pts | ~57,600 pts |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred Best Overall Value | $95 | 3x dining | Yes | None | $72 (1.5cpp) | $144 | $216 |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited Best No-Fee Dining | $0 | 3% dining + drugstores | Yes | None | $72 | $144 | $216 |
| Capital One SavorOne Best Multi-Category | $0 | 3% dining + entertainment + groceries | Yes | None | $72 | $144 | $216 |
| Citi Custom Cash Best if Dining is Top Spend | $0 | 5% on top category (up to $500/mo) | Depends on coding | $500/month | $120 (if dining is top) | $240 | $300 (capped) |
| Wells Fargo Autograph Best Multi-Category No-Fee | $0 | 3x dining + travel + gas + streaming | Generally yes | None | $60 | $120 | $180 |
Do Delivery Apps Count as Dining?
Whether Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub earn dining rates depends on the card - and sometimes on how the order is placed.
| Card | Uber Eats | DoorDash | Grubhub | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Preferred / Reserve | Yes | Yes | Yes | DashPass included with Reserve |
| Amex Gold | Yes (+$10 monthly Uber Cash) | Usually | Usually | Uber Cash credit makes Uber Eats essentially free |
| Capital One SavorOne | Yes | Yes | Yes | Consistent across delivery apps |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited | Yes | Yes | Yes | 3% on dining category |
| Bank of America cards | No | No | No | Delivery apps code differently |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best credit card for dining out?
The Amex Gold earns 4x points at restaurants worldwide with no cap. For no-fee options, the Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 3% on dining, and the Capital One SavorOne earns 3% on dining and entertainment. The Citi Custom Cash earns 5% on your top category if dining is your highest spend each month (up to $500/month).
Does Uber Eats and DoorDash count as dining for credit card rewards?
It depends on the card. Chase Sapphire Preferred and Freedom Unlimited include Uber Eats, DoorDash, and most delivery services in the 3x dining category. Amex Gold includes most delivery apps. Capital One SavorOne includes delivery apps. Bank of America cards generally do not.
Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred worth it for dining?
At $400/month in dining, the Chase Sapphire Preferred earns $144/year (3x at 1.5 cents per point) just on dining. Add the $50 hotel credit and the effective fee drops to $45. Total card value typically reaches $500-700/year at moderate spending, making the $95 fee easy to justify.