Hear from our editors: The best credit cards for restaurants and takeout of October 2026
Updated October 15, 2026
This date may not reflect recent changes in individual terms.
Editorial Note: Intuit Credit Karma receives compensation from third-party advertisers, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our third-party advertisers don’t review, approve or endorse our editorial content. Information about financial products not offered on Credit Karma is collected independently. Our content is accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted.
Written by: Liza Carrasquillo, Editor, Credit Cards
Edited by: Eric Freeman, Editorial Lead, Credit Cards
When you pay with one of the best credit cards for restaurants, you can earn rewards whether you’re dining out, grabbing takeout or ordering delivery.
Here are our picks for the top restaurant rewards credit cards.
- Best for restaurant credits: American Express® Gold Card
- Best for DoorDash and OpenTable: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Best for Uber Eats and Resy: American Express Platinum Card®
- Best for everyday cash back: Chase Freedom Unlimited®
- Best for a night out: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Best for a night in: U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
Best for restaurant credits: American Express® Gold Card
Here’s why: The American Express® Gold Card offers a lot of value in restaurant credits each year.
- You’ll get up to $10 in dining statement credits each month when using the card at Grubhub or select restaurants. You can earn up to $120 total annually, though you must enroll to receive the benefit.
- Cardholders get up to $10 in Uber Cash each month, which you can use by selecting your American Express card as the payment method on Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S.
- You can get up to $100 annually in Resy credits after you enroll and pay for eligible purchases with your American Express card. From January through June, you can earn up to $50 in statement credits, and you’ll get the same for July through December.
- You’ll also get up to $7 monthly in Dunkin’ statement credits when you enroll and pay using your American Express card.
The card also has an excellent dining rewards rate. You can earn four Membership Rewards® Points per $1 spent on restaurant purchases worldwide, including takeout and delivery services, on up to $50,000 spent per year, then one point per $1. Purchases outside of bonus categories earn one point per $1.
The big drawback is the card’s $325 annual fee. But it’s much easier to make the most of the card if you use the restaurant credits.
Read more about the American Express® Gold Card.
Best for DoorDash and OpenTable: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Here’s why: The Chase Sapphire Reserve® features valuable benefits for both DoorDash and OpenTable.
First, you’ll get a complimentary DashPass subscription, which could make you eligible for free delivery on certain orders. You’ll also get up to $35 in DoorDash credits each month you’re enrolled in DashPass — $15 to spend on any qualifying DoorDash order and two $10 promos for other eligible orders like groceries and other daily essentials.
Cardholders also earn $150 in statement credits twice per year (once from January through June and again for July through December) on purchases at restaurants that are part of the Sapphire Exclusive Tables program on OpenTable. You don’t have to book a reservation on OpenTable to qualify, either.
You’ll also get three points for every $1 you spend on dining, which includes food delivery services. Purchases made outside of bonus categories earn one point per $1.
The card comes with a $795 annual fee, so you’ll have to decide whether the card’s rewards and perks offset the cost for you.
Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
Best for Uber Eats and Resy: American Express Platinum Card®
Here’s why: The American Express Platinum Card® is a premium travel card with a high annual fee of $895. But if you can take advantage of the card’s benefits, it offers a lot of value each year, including up to $200 in Uber Cash and up to $400 in Resy credits.
In addition to Uber rides, you can use Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders when you add your card to your Uber account and select it as your payment method. You can receive up to $15 in Uber Cash each month — except in December, when you can get $20.
The card also offers up to $100 in Resy statement credits each quarter, for a total of up to $400 a year. You can earn the credit by enrolling and using your card to make eligible purchases at restaurants available on Resy, on the Resy app and through Resy Pay — so earning the credit isn’t limited to making reservations or paying through the app.
But with a $895 annual fee, we only recommend this card for frequent travelers who can take advantage of the card’s other benefits like world-class airport lounge access.
Read more about the American Express Platinum Card®.
Best for everyday cash back: Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Here’s why: The Chase Freedom Unlimited® gives you 3% back on dining, which includes restaurants, takeout and eligible delivery services.
But you’re not limited to food purchases with this card. You’ll also get …
- 5% back on travel bookings made through Chase Travel℠
- 3% at drugstores
- 1.5% on all other purchases
That elevated 1.5% makes this a great everyday card on top of being a great dining card. Plus, the annual fee is $0.
Learn more about the Chase Freedom Unlimited®.
Best for a night out: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Here’s why: The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is built for food and fun. It offers 3% cash back on dining, including takeout and delivery, with no spending limits. You can also earn:
- 8% cash back on purchases made through Capital One Entertainment
- 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 3% cash back at grocery stores, on entertainment and on popular streaming services
- 1% on all other purchases
You can go out to eat, then do something fun like see a movie or concert, all while getting cash back at every step. Plus, it has a $0 annual fee.
Learn more about the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card.
Best for a night in: U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
Here’s why: The U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card is perfect for a relaxing night at home.
You’ll get four points for every $1 you spend on dining, which includes dining out at restaurants and ordering takeout or delivery, on up to $2,000 spent per quarter, then one point. You’ll also earn …
- 2 points per $1 spent at grocery stores
- 2 points per $1 spent on streaming services
- 2 points per $1 spent at gas stations and EV charging stations
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
When you combine that with the $15 annual streaming credit, you have the makings of a great night in.
Another plus: There’s no annual fee.
Learn more about the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card.
How we picked these cards
Dining at a restaurant can mean different things to different people — some like to visit a few casual places throughout the month, while others might like to splurge on fine dining whenever they can. Some people prefer delivery or takeout, while others like to sit down and eat. Because of these different preferences, we chose cards that could fit with a variety of dining styles and budgets.
We then narrowed down our picks of the top restaurant cards by considering each card’s rewards rates and restaurant credits, and the value of those rewards in practice. We also looked at each card’s annual fees and any additional cardholder benefits that may offset those fees.
How to choose a dining rewards card
A dining credit card should fit into your routine and offer valuable rewards when you dine out — not make you feel pressured to eat out more often.
Consider how a card with an annual fee and certain restaurant credits might affect your dining habits — particularly if the fee is several hundred dollars. If you think you might dine out more often than you’d like simply because you get a statement credit that covers part of your purchase, you may be better off with a more basic card that offers a slightly lower rewards rate and no annual fee.
How to make the most of dining rewards cards
To maximize whichever new card you get, be sure to use it whenever you go out to eat, take advantage of available dining credits and register your card with dining programs. Here’s a breakdown of our tips.
- Use the card whenever you pay at restaurants. This includes ordering takeout or delivery. Look at your card’s fine print to make sure you understand what counts as a restaurant to your issuer. Some places you don’t expect to count as a restaurant, such as a bakery or food truck, might still get you cash back.
- Familiarize yourself with your card’s benefits. If you get a statement credit for ordering through a certain delivery app or reservation platform, be sure to follow your issuer’s requirements. You may have to add your card to the app or enroll in the benefit some other way before you make your purchase.
- Sign up for a dining rewards program with your favorite hotel or airline. Once registered, you can earn points, miles or cash back at select restaurants by using your registered card to pay. Plus, you get these rewards in addition to your credit card rewards.
Frequently asked questions about credit cards for restaurants and takeout
Are restaurant credit cards worth it?
Restaurant credit cards are generally worth it as long as you go out to eat or order takeout or delivery at least a few times a month. With a restaurant credit card, you’ll get cash back or rewards whenever you dine at eligible establishments, and you can possibly earn statement credits when you use your card.
What credit cards give 3% back on restaurants?
There are many credit cards that offer 3% cash back at restaurants, Some popular options include the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card and the Chase Freedom Unlimited®.
Can restaurant credit cards help you build credit?
Depending on how they’re managed, restaurant credit cards can help you build credit if the issuer reports to the credit bureaus. By paying your credit card bill on time each month and keeping your balance low — under 30% of your available credit, as a good rule of thumb — you can start building a positive credit history. But keep in mind that the best credit cards for restaurants might only be available if you have good credit.
