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For the foodie-est among us, it’s not uncommon to plan trips around specific meals. Whether you’re in pursuit of cacio e pepe in Rome, an omakase experience in Tokyo, or every kind of barbecue in Memphis, each bite is an opportunity to earn travel rewards that can be put toward your next culinary adventure—or cash back to offset that hundred-dollar tasting menu.
Credit cards that offer bonus points or extra cash back on dining purchases can be an excellent piece of a larger points and miles strategy. When taking a trip, dining is often one of the biggest expenses after flights and lodging. Using cards that earn the most points per dollar when paying for a delicious meal makes sense to maximize your earnings. Ideally, you’ll have a card in your wallet that earns bonus points on every purchase, including restaurants, takeout, and delivery. Pick up one of these seven travel credit cards for more ways to earn as you explore with your taste buds.
This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
American Express® Gold Card
Get this card to rack up transferable points fast wherever you are: It’s got a high earning rate on dining spend and no foreign transaction fees (just be sure the restaurant takes Amex). The Gold Card has an annual fee of $250 (see rates and fees), but it’s offset by annual credits: up to $120 to use on services like Goldbelly and GrubHub; and up to another $120 in UberCash, redeemable for UberEats or rides in the US (enrollment required, terms apply).
What you’ll get at the restaurant: Every dollar spent with restaurants anywhere in the world—including takeout and food delivery in the US—earns you four points.
Other perks: You’ll also net four points per dollar at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per year; and three points per dollar on airfare. All other purchases earn one point per dollar spent.
Foreign transaction fees: None
Current welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 points after you spend $6,000 on purchases within six months of account opening.
Capital One® SavorOne Cash Rewards Card
Other cash back cards have seasonally rotating bonus categories that would get you more bang for your buck, but it can be annoying to keep track of what you get a bonus on and when. With the Savor card, you’ll get year-round cash back rewards on dining. If your next food trip is overseas, the Savor has you covered: It doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, and, as a Mastercard, it’s widely accepted worldwide. The annual fee is $95.
What you’ll get at the restaurant: You earn unlimited 4% cash back on dining purchases, whether you sit at the restaurant or order takeout. Cardholders also get exclusive or early access to dining events via Capital One.
Other perks: You also get 4% cash back on entertainment, like movie theaters and live events. Anyone up for brunch and a Broadway matinee? If you’d rather stay home, the card also grants 4% cash back on select streaming services and 3% at grocery stores. You’ll earn 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
Foreign transaction fees: None
Current welcome bonus: Earn a $300 cash bonus after spending $3,000 on purchases within your first three months of account opening.
U.S. Bank Altitude Go Card
If you want rewards for free, this card is for you. With no annual fee, the Altitude Go is a costless card with a generous earning potential. However, it is worth noting that you can’t transfer your hard-earned points to airline or hotel programs; you can only redeem at a rate of one cent per point for things like gift cards, statement credits, or cash deposited into your U.S. Bank account.
What you’ll get at the restaurant: You get four points for every dollar you spend at a restaurant—whether dining in or getting delivery—in the US or elsewhere. Plus, there’s no annual cap on how much you can accrue.
Other perks: Additionally, you earn two points per dollar spent on grocery stores, popular streaming services, gas stations, and even charging stations for electric vehicles. Earn one point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
Foreign transaction fees: None
Current welcome bonus: Earn 20,000 bonus points if you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days of account opening.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Michelin-starred meals are at your fingertips if you carry this elite card. Platinum Card holders get Resy Global Dining Access, which offers exclusive tables to book in restaurants across the US and beyond, as well as early access to celeb chef dinners, virtual cooking classes, and more (enrollment required, terms apply). Don’t forget Amex’s famous concierge service, which can help you book the hottest tables in the world with just a phone call, too. The annual fee of $695 is steep (see rates and fees), but if you’re serious about global gastronomic experiences, the benefits—dining-related and not—can outweigh that cost.
What you’ll get at the restaurant: This card is really about the access you get. It only nets you one point per dollar spent on dining, but you can always use a more rewarding card once you’ve secured that window-side table and the sunset view.
Other perks: The Amex Platinum is one of the best credit cards for travel for a reason. It earns five points per dollar spent on hotels and airfare booked through Amex’s travel portal, and on airfare booked directly with airlines. It also reimburses you for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry and CLEAR application fees, as well as loads of annual credits like $200 to spend on hotels, $200 on airline incidentals, $240 on eligible digital subscriptions, $200 on Uber and UberEats, and more (enrollment required, terms apply).
Foreign transaction fees: None
Current welcome offer: Earn 100,000 points after you spend $8,000 on purchases within six months of account opening.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
For the days when you’d rather have your meal come to you, there’s the Chase Sapphire Preferred. It currently comes with a complimentary DashPass membership with DoorDash, which gets you free deliveries on eligible take-out orders and lower service fees on the app. (You must enroll for this benefit by December 31, 2024.) Plus, the card has a reasonable annual fee of $95.
What you’ll get at the restaurant: Cardholders earn three points per dollar spent on dining out worldwide with no accrual caps.
Other perks: You earn three points per dollar on groceries purchased online and select streaming service subscriptions, and two points per dollar on regular travel spending; plus, five points per dollar spent on travel purchases through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal (and a $50 annual hotel credit). All other eligible purchases earn one point per dollar.
Foreign transaction fees: None
Current welcome offer: Earn 75,000 points after you spend $4,000 in the first three months from account opening.
Wells Fargo Autograph Card
If you want additional bonus categories beyond restaurants, the Wells Fargo Autograph Card is a great option. With no annual fee, you won’t pay anything to have this card in your wallet, but you will get tons of benefits. You can redeem your points for travel, gift cards, statement credits for purchases, or at checkout with PayPal. If you already bank with Wells Fargo, this card is an easy choice for unique bonus categories and earning potential.
What you’ll get at the restaurant: You’ll receive three points per dollar on dining—at the restaurant, on takeout, catering, and delivery.
Other perks: You’ll also earn three points per dollar on travel purchases, gas, transit, streaming services, and phone plans. If you’re planning a trip around food, you’ll earn three points on your flights, hotels, rental car, taxi, subway, and meals, which is hard to beat. All other purchases earn one point per dollar.
Foreign transaction fees: None
Current welcome bonus: Earn 20,000 bonus points once you spend $1,000 in the first three months of account opening.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
The Chase Freedom Unlimited is another excellent no-annual-fee card, offering a tiered earning structure on purchases. What sets it apart from other cash back cards is unlimited 1.5% back on everyday purchases outside of bonus category spending. Plus, with 5% back on Chase Travel purchases, you can book a food tour on your vacation and get a solid chunk back on your purchase. If you like ordering in, you will receive a three-month subscription to DashPass plus 50% off your subscription for the following nine months (activate by December 31, 2024).
What you’ll get at the restaurant: 3% cash back on dining purchases, including takeout and delivery, with no cap to how much you can earn.
Other perks: Cardholders also earn 3% cash back on drugstore purchases, 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases. There’s no limit to how much you can earn.
Foreign transaction fees: 3% of each transaction in US dollars. This isn’t the card to use abroad, but it’s helpful when you travel domestically.
Current welcome bonus: Earn $200 after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Bonus: Don’t forget about rewards via airline and hotel credit cards
If you’re more flight-forward than food-forward, you can still earn double the points per dollar you spend on dining via co-branded airline credit cards. Depending on your loyalty, you can use the AAdvantage Platinum Select from Citi to earn American miles; any of the United Explorer, Quest, or Club Infinite cards to earn United miles; or any of the Delta SkyMiles Blue, Gold, or Platinum American Express cards to earn Delta miles. They’ll help you jet to your next delicious destination even sooner. Plus, some co-branded hotel cards like the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy have impressive earning rates on dining purchases—the Bevy earns four Bonvoy points per dollar at restaurants and supermarkets up to $15,000 spent each year, then two points per dollar.
See rates and fees for American Express cards listed: The Platinum Card; The Gold Card; Delta SkyMiles Blue Card; Delta SkyMiles Gold Card; Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card
Condé Nast Traveler has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Condé Nast Traveler and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
