Best credit card for dining out
Dining is one of the easiest categories to optimize. Restaurants and takeout code consistently, and several cards pay 3x or 4x on the category. If you eat out regularly, the gap between 1x and 4x adds up fast.
Amex Gold: 4x at restaurants
The Amex Gold earns 4x Membership Rewards at restaurants worldwide. At roughly 2¢ per point (TPG valuation), that's about 8¢ per dollar in value. The card has a $250 annual fee, offset by up to $120 in dining credits per year if you use them.
Best for: People who already dine out often and can use the credits. The effective fee drops if you value the credits at face value.
Limitation: Credits are split (e.g. Grubhub, select restaurants). If you don't use them, the fee is harder to justify.
Capital One Savor / SavorOne: 3% or 4% cash back
The Savor card earns 4% on dining and entertainment with a $95 annual fee. The SavorOne has no annual fee and earns 3% on dining, grocery, and entertainment. Both are straightforward cash back. No points to transfer.
Best for: Anyone who wants simple cash back and doesn't want to manage transfer partners. SavorOne is one of the best no-fee options for dining.
Chase Sapphire Preferred / Reserve: 3x on dining
Both Sapphire cards earn 3x Ultimate Rewards on dining. Points are worth 1.25¢ (Preferred) or 1.5¢ (Reserve) when redeemed for travel in the portal, or more when transferred to partners. Broad "dining" category: restaurants, bars, takeout, delivery.
Best for: People who already use Chase for travel. The 3x stacks with other Chase cards and transfer partners.
Citi Premier: 3x on dining and travel
The Citi Premier earns 3x ThankYou Points on dining, groceries, gas, and travel. ThankYou Points transfer to partners at roughly 1.7¢. No dining credits to track, just a flat 3x.
Limitation: $95 annual fee. Worth it if you spend across several of its bonus categories.
How cashew handles this
Search any restaurant or delivery merchant in cashew. The app uses your cards and the dining category to show your top option. If you have both a 4x and a 3x card, you'll see which one wins for your wallet.
~8¢/dollar value; $250 fee offset by credits
$95 fee; straightforward cash back
$95 fee; points transfer to travel partners
No annual fee; best no-fee dining card
Quick reference
| Card | Dining rate | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|
| Amex Gold | 4x MR | $250 |
| Capital One Savor | 4% | $95 |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred / Reserve | 3x UR | $95 / $550 |
| Capital One SavorOne | 3% | $0 |
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