Best Credit Cards for Dining and Restaurants in 2026

The average American spends roughly $3,500 per year eating out. That's takeout, coffee runs, date nights, and the occasional DoorDash splurge. If you're putting all of that on a flat 1% cash back card, you're leaving over $100 in extra rewards on the table every single year.

We've tested dozens of dining rewards cards. Here are the five that actually deserve a spot in your wallet in 2026.

1. American Express Gold — Best Dining Rewards Overall

The Amex Gold has been our top dining card for three years running, and it's not particularly close. 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide is the highest non-rotating dining multiplier you'll find on any card.

Who it's best for: Anyone who spends $300+ per month on dining and groceries. The $240 in annual credits effectively cut the fee to just $10, making those 4x points nearly free to earn.

2. Chase Sapphire Preferred — Best Dining + Travel Combo

If you eat out a lot and travel, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is hard to beat. You get 3x points on dining plus 2x on all other travel, and those points transfer to partners like Hyatt and United where they're worth 2-5 cents each.

Who it's best for: Diners who also travel. Pairing your restaurant spending with Chase's transfer partners means your dinner points can fund flights and hotel stays at outsized value.

3. Capital One SavorOne — Best No-Annual-Fee Dining Card

Not everyone wants to pay an annual fee, and that's perfectly fine. The SavorOne gives you 3% cash back on dining and entertainment with zero annual fee. It's that simple.

Who it's best for: People who want solid dining rewards without overthinking it. No annual fee means every dollar of cash back is pure profit.

4. Citi Strata Premier — Best for Flexible Points

Citi revamped its travel card lineup, and the Strata Premier is the result. 3x ThankYou points on restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel, and hotels makes it one of the most versatile mid-tier cards available.

Who it's best for: People who want one card for everything. The broad 3x categories mean you rarely have to reach for a second card.

5. Wells Fargo Autograph — Best Budget-Friendly Option

The Autograph quietly earns 3x points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, streaming, and phone plans — all with no annual fee. It's an absurd amount of category coverage for a free card.

Who it's best for: Budget-conscious spenders who want broad category coverage without paying a cent in annual fees.

How to Maximize Dining Rewards

Picking the right card is step one. Here's how to squeeze even more value out of your restaurant spending:

• Stack with restaurant apps. Many restaurant loyalty programs (Chipotle Rewards, Starbucks Rewards, etc.) let you earn points on top of your credit card rewards. Always double-dip.
• Use the right card for delivery vs. dine-in. Some cards code food delivery apps differently than restaurants. The Amex Gold counts both, but cheaper cards sometimes don't. Check your statements.
• Hit shopping portals before ordering. If you're ordering delivery through a specific platform, check whether your card's shopping portal offers bonus points for that merchant first.
• Don't forget about dining credits. The Amex Gold's Uber Cash and dining credits effectively lower your annual fee. Set calendar reminders so you never miss a monthly credit.

Want to pair your dining card with a great travel card? Check out our Best Travel Credit Cards of 2026. Prefer to skip annual fees altogether? See our Best No-Annual-Fee Credit Cards — the SavorOne and Autograph both appear there too.

FAQ

Do food delivery apps count as dining on these cards?

It depends on the card and the app. Most major cards (Amex Gold, Chase Sapphire Preferred) code DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub as dining. However, ordering directly through a restaurant's app or website might code differently. We recommend checking your first statement to confirm.

Can I use more than one dining card?

Absolutely. Many of us carry two or three cards for dining depending on the situation. For example, you might use the Amex Gold at sit-down restaurants and the SavorOne at places that don't accept Amex.

Is the Amex Gold annual fee worth it just for dining?

If you spend at least $250/month on dining and groceries combined, the 4x earning rate plus the $240 in annual credits make the card pay for itself. For lighter spenders, a no-annual-fee option like the SavorOne or Autograph is the smarter play.