Whereas they cannot totally make up for the 7.7% 12 months over 12 months inflation on restaurant meals, the best restaurant bank card can assist you make more money again in your eating. These rewards playing cards apply to takeout or supply, quick meals or a pleasant sit-down dinner. There’s extra to contemplate than simply cash-back charges, although — many restaurant bank cards provide worthwhile welcome bonuses that may assist cowl a number of meals, or different perks like third-party supply service subscriptions. These restaurant bank cards have totally different credit score rating necessities and annual charges, so there is a card for everybody.
Greatest restaurant bank card general
Intro SupplyEarn $200 in money again after you spend $750 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. This bonus provide will probably be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Factors, which will be redeemed for $200 money again.
APR15.49% – 25.49% (Variable)
Intro Buy APR0% for 15 months on purchases
Advisable Credit score Glorious, Good
- Earn 5% money again on purchases in your prime eligible spend class every billing cycle, as much as the primary $500 spent, 1% money again thereafter.
- Earn limitless 1% money again on all different purchases.
Annual Charge$0
Intro Steadiness Switch APR0% for 15 months on stability transfers
Steadiness Switch APR15.49% – 25.49% (Variable)
Steadiness Switch Charge Steadiness switch payment applies with this provide 5% of every stability switch; $5 minimal.
Late Fee Charge As much as $41
International Transaction Charges 3%
Penalty APR As much as 29.99% (Variable)
- Earn 5% money again on purchases in your prime eligible spend class every billing cycle, as much as the primary $500 spent, 1% money again thereafter.
- Earn limitless 1% money again on all different purchases.
Our Take
The Citi Customized Money℠ Card permits cardholders to earn 5% money again on their highest eligible spending class, on as much as $500 of expenditure inside a billing cycle, then 1%. Eating places are an eligible class. This 5% will get utilized routinely relying in your spending inside the billing cycle, so make sure to use this card primarily for eating places.
Different eligible spending classes embody fuel stations, grocery shops, choose journey, choose transit, choose streaming providers, drugstores, dwelling enchancment shops, health golf equipment and reside leisure.
Take a look at our full evaluate of the Citi Customized Money℠ Card for extra info.
Intro SupplyIntro Supply: Earn 20,000 bonus factors once you spend $1,000 in eligible purchases inside the first 90 days of account opening.
APR16.49% – 25.49% (Variable)
Intro Buy APR0% for 12 billing cycles on purchases
Advisable Credit score Good/Glorious
- 4X factors on eating, takeout, and restaurant supply.
- 2X factors on streaming providers.
- 2X factors at grocery shops, grocery supply, fuel stations, and EV charging stations
- 1X level on all different eligible purchases.
Annual Charge$0
Intro Steadiness Switch APR0% for 12 billing cycles on stability transfers
Steadiness Switch APR16.49% – 25.49% (Variable)
Steadiness Switch Charge Both 3% of the quantity of every switch or $5 minimal, whichever is bigger
International Transaction Charges N/A
- 4X factors on eating, takeout, and restaurant supply.
- 2X factors on streaming providers.
- 2X factors at grocery shops, grocery supply, fuel stations, and EV charging stations
- 1X level on all different eligible purchases.
Our Take
At one of many highest rewards charges for eating places round, and with no annual payment, the U.S. Financial institution Altitude Go Visa Signature Card is a good selection for most individuals’s restaurant and eating expenditure. You may earn 4x factors on takeout, meals supply and eating. At a price of 1 cent per level, this implies you are receiving 4% again. The welcome bonus can also be an effective way to attain some additional rewards towards meals out.
For eating and leisure
Intro SupplyEarn a one-time $200 money bonus after you spend $500 on purchases inside the first 3 months from account opening
APR16.49% – 26.49% (Variable)
Intro Buy APR0% intro on purchases for 15 months
Advisable Credit score Glorious, Good
- Earn 8% money again on Capital One Leisure purchases and tickets at Vivid Seats
- Earn limitless 5% money again on resorts and rental vehicles booked by way of Capital One Journey, the place you will get Capital One’s greatest costs on 1000’s of journey choices. Phrases apply
- Earn limitless 3% money again on eating, leisure, standard streaming providers and at grocery shops (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Goal®).
- Earn 1% on all different purchases.
Annual Charge$0
Intro Steadiness Switch APR0% intro on stability transfers for 15 months
Steadiness Switch APR16.49% – 26.49% (Variable)
Steadiness Switch Charge 3%
Late Fee Charge As much as $40
International Transaction Charges None
Penalty APR None
- Earn 8% money again on Capital One Leisure purchases and tickets at Vivid Seats
- Earn limitless 5% money again on resorts and rental vehicles booked by way of Capital One Journey, the place you will get Capital One’s greatest costs on 1000’s of journey choices. Phrases apply
- Earn limitless 3% money again on eating, leisure, standard streaming providers and at grocery shops (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Goal®).
- Earn 1% on all different purchases.
Our Take
With the Capital One SavorOne Money Rewards Credit score Card, there are not any spending caps in your eating rewards. And you’ll earn the identical good cash-back price on leisure and standard streaming providers, so this card is sweet for an evening out in town or at dwelling with takeout and Netflix. Leisure purchases embody ticket purchases made at film theaters, sports activities promoters, theatrical promoters, amusement parks, vacationer sights, aquariums, zoos, dance halls, report shops, pool halls and bowling alleys.
For extra particulars, see our full evaluate of the Capital One SavorOne Money Rewards Credit score Card.
Intro SupplyIntro Supply: Earn an extra 1.5% money again on every part you purchase (on as much as $20,000 spent within the first 12 months) – value as much as $300 money again!
APR16.49% – 25.24% Variable
Intro Buy APR0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months
Advisable Credit score Glorious/Good
- Take pleasure in 5% money again on journey bought by way of Chase Final Rewards®, our premier rewards program that permits you to redeem rewards for money again, journey, present playing cards and extra;
- 3% money again on drugstore purchases and eating at eating places, together with takeout and eligible supply service
- 1.5% on all different purchases
Annual Charge$0
Intro Steadiness Switch APR0% Intro APR on Steadiness Transfers for 15 months
Steadiness Switch APR16.49% – 25.24% Variable
Steadiness Switch Charge Both $5 or 5% of the quantity of every switch, whichever is bigger.
International Transaction Charges 3% of every transaction in U.S. {dollars}
Penalty APR As much as 29.99%
- Take pleasure in 5% money again on journey bought by way of Chase Final Rewards®, our premier rewards program that permits you to redeem rewards for money again, journey, present playing cards and extra;
- 3% money again on drugstore purchases and eating at eating places, together with takeout and eligible supply service
- 1.5% on all different purchases
Our Take
The Chase Freedom Limitless card presents 3% money again on eating, plus no less than 1.5% money again on another purchases, making it the very best decide if you wish to maximize rewards for eating and on a regular basis spending. The welcome bonus presents an extra 1.5% money again on all purchases for as much as $20,000 of spending within the first 12 months, so you possibly can internet a complete of 4.5% money again on eating for the related time-frame. Plus, there isn’t any annual payment.
A novel provide with this card proper now’s the complimentary DashPass subscription from DoorDash. So long as you activate by December 31, 2024, you possibly can take pleasure in limitless deliveries with a $0 supply payment and decreased service charges from 1000’s of eating places for 3 months on qualifying meals purchases. After that, you might be routinely enrolled in DashPass at 50% off for the following 9 months.
See our full evaluate of the Chase Freedom Limitless for extra info.
Greatest restaurant bank card for restricted credit score
Intro SupplyN/A
APR14.49% – 28.49% (Variable)
Intro Buy APRN/A
Advisable Credit score Restricted/Honest/Good/Glorious
- As much as 1.5% money again on eligible purchases after making 12 on-time month-to-month funds.
- 1% money again on eligible purchases immediately.
Annual Charge$0
International Transaction Charges $0
- As much as 1.5% money again on eligible purchases after making 12 on-time month-to-month funds.
- 1% money again on eligible purchases immediately.
Our Take
In case your credit score is truthful or restricted, it could be troublesome to qualify for one in every of our above picks. However all hope shouldn’t be misplaced — whereas most bank cards for truthful or restricted credit score don’t provide any rewards programs, the Petal 2 “Money Again, No Charges” Visa bank card, issued by WebBank, Member FDIC, does. There isn’t a particular restaurant or eating class for rewards, however a blanket rewards price of as much as 1.5% money again on eligible purchases has you coated. You earn 1% money again on eligible purchases immediately, after which one other 0.5% after 12 on-time month-to-month funds.
How do restaurant rewards playing cards work?
Rewards playing cards give attention to maximizing your rewards — sometimes factors, money again, miles and even cryptocurrency — on a selected kind of spending. For instance, whereas every greenback spent earns you factors or money again, grocery bank cards get you greater rewards on meals and fuel bank cards get you greater rewards from fuel stations. Restaurant bank cards sometimes earn you essentially the most factors or money again once you make purchases at eating institutions. Normally, the rewards price is available in between 1 and 5 factors per greenback spent (typically denoted as 1x factors or 5x factors), or a 1% to five% cash-back price.
These rewards can later be redeemed towards particular purchases in your bank card billing assertion or as a normal assertion credit score. Observe that these reward redemptions cannot often be utilized to your bank card’s minimal fee, so be sure you’re maintaining with the stability. You may need to verify your bank card’s high-quality print, too, as some playing cards require you to achieve a minimal rewards threshold earlier than you possibly can redeem them.
Restaurant bank cards typically include different options that will assist stretch your eating finances. Some provide particular credit and perks towards supply providers, whereas others provide welcome bonuses that may cowl a few of your meals.
FAQs
How do you select the best bank card for eating places?
With so many wonderful restaurant and eating bank cards in the marketplace, it may be troublesome to decide on the very best one for you. The actual fact is that most of the playing cards on our checklist provide comparable eating advantages, which suggests you might have to look just a little nearer at the remainder of the phrases and rewards.
Take note of whether or not there is a restrict on the eating rewards you possibly can earn and see what mixture of rewards and phrases most closely fits your life-style and spending habits.
How do restaurant and eating playing cards work?
Restaurant and eating bank cards reward you for spending at sure meals institutions. Once you spend cash at eating places, on takeout or on meals supply (when relevant), you will earn an elevated rewards price. Relying on the bank card firm, you might be able to use your rewards for money again, present playing cards, journey, assertion credit and different purchasing. Some suppliers might provide the next rewards price in your factors for sure redemption choices.
As at all times, cash-back factors are solely worthwhile in the event you do not overspend and repay your stability in full every month. In any other case, the curiosity and penalty charges you might accrue will offset your cash-back earnings and should find yourself costing you.
How do eating places course of tips about bank cards?
Sometimes, cardholders enter a tip quantity for servers or bartenders after the invoice for the meal has already been charged to the cardboard. The cost is later modified to mirror the tip earlier than the entire is finalized for processing with the bank card issuer — typically this occurs earlier than the restaurant closes for the evening. Nonetheless, you might even see the preliminary quantity present up in your bank card account till the adjustment processes. This might take a number of days.
Can I get money again if I buy restaurant present playing cards?
Every bank card issuer has its personal algorithm surrounding present card purchases — some bank cards mean you can earn money again on present playing cards whereas others do not. It additionally depends upon how the sale is categorized by the service provider, which usually assigns a code to the acquisition kind. Bank cards typically use these codes to find out how a lot money again to award you. If the acquisition is labeled as a present card buy moderately than a meals and beverage buy, it is doable you will not earn the restaurant rewards price. Examine the high-quality print of your bank card settlement to know the phrases.
Are you able to earn rewards at bars with restaurant and eating playing cards?
Every bank card comes with totally different guidelines about what you possibly can and can’t earn elevated rewards for. For instance, some issuers solely provide elevated rewards on cash spent at precise eating places, whereas others embody takeout and supply. Though bars are sometimes categorized as eating places, there could also be a number of cases the place they don’t seem to be.
Additionally, some playing cards might mean you can earn factors at bars if they’re additionally eating institutions, whereas others might enable elevated rewards in any respect institutions no matter whether or not they serve meals.
Our methodology
CNET opinions bank cards by exhaustively evaluating them throughout set standards developed for every main class, together with money again, welcome bonus, journey rewards and stability switch. We think about the everyday spending conduct of a spread of client profiles — with the understanding that everybody’s monetary scenario is totally different — and the designated operate of a card.
The editorial content material on this web page is predicated solely on goal, impartial assessments by our writers and isn’t influenced by promoting or partnerships. It has not been supplied or commissioned by any third social gathering. Nevertheless, we might obtain compensation once you click on on hyperlinks to services or products provided by our companions.