Top Credit Cards for Restaurant Spending: 3%+ Rewards Without an Annual Fee

Pick a no-annual-fee card that returns at least 3% at restaurants, because a card with a $95 fee and 3 points per dollar offers the same 3% value when each point is worth 1 cent. The American Express Gold Card can justify its $325 fee if you can fully use the dining and Uber credits, especially if you redeem points for flights.

All of the cards below offer at least 3% or 3 points per dollar on dining, although some limit the bonus or require you to choose dining as your preferred category. A $95 annual-fee card may provide extra value through travel credits and transferable points. The key question is whether you can use those benefits without changing your habits.

If you book flights through Amex Travel, where American Express values a point at 1 cent, the American Express Gold Card’s 4 points per dollar at restaurants equal 4%. That extra 1% over a 3% card only offsets the $325 annual fee after about $32,500 in yearly restaurant spending. If you redeem points as statement credits instead, they are worth 0.6 cent each, so 4 points per dollar works out to 2.4%, which is less than a 3% card.

No annual fee

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Households that divide their spending between eating out and cooking at home can earn 3% back at restaurants and grocery stores, plus on entertainment and popular streaming services, with no cap.

• Best for: People who spend heavily on groceries, dining, entertainment, and streaming
• What Sets It Apart: 3% cash back in four everyday categories with no spending cap and no annual fee
• Cost: $0 annual fee; no foreign transaction fee; 0% intro APR for 12 months, then 18.74%, 24.74%, or 28.74% variable APR
• Features: 3% on grocery stores and on dining, entertainment, and streaming; 8% on Capital One Entertainment tickets; 5% on hotel, vacation rental, and rental car bookings made through Capital One Travel; 1% on all other purchases; $200 bonus after $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
• Pros: No cap on 3% rewards; cash back in any amount that does not expire while the account is open; 12 months at 0% on purchases and balance transfers
• Cons: 1% on gas and other purchases; groceries at superstores, warehouse clubs, and discount stores earn 1%; requires excellent credit

For more information, read our full Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card Review.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

People who order takeout several times a week and want one card for everyday use can earn 3% on dining, including takeout and eligible delivery, and 1.5% on other purchases.

• Best for: Cardholders who want one no-fee card with no activation requirements and who dine out often
• What Sets It Apart: 1.5% on every purchase, 3% at restaurants and drugstores, and 5% through Chase Travel, with no rotating categories
• Cost: $0 annual fee; 18.49% to 27.99% variable APR after a 15-month 0% intro period; 3% foreign transaction fee; balance transfer fee of 3% (minimum $5) for 60 days, then 5%
• Features: $200 bonus after $500 in purchases in 3 months; purchase protection and extended warranty; trip cancellation coverage
• Pros: Nothing to activate; 3% on dining including takeout; points do not expire while the account is open
• Cons: 1.5% base rate trails 2% flat-rate cards; 3% foreign transaction fee; 5% travel bonus applies only through Chase Travel

For more information, read our full Chase Freedom Unlimited® Review.

Wells Fargo Autograph® Card

Diners who also spend a lot on gas, travel, and transit can earn 3 points per dollar, worth 3% as cash, on dining and those categories, along with phone plans and popular streaming services.

• Best for: Households that put more than half of card spending on dining, gas, travel, transit, streaming, and phone bills
• Rewards: 3 points per dollar, with no cap, on restaurants, travel, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans; 1 point per dollar on everything else; points are worth 1 cent each as cash
• Gas: 3 points per dollar at gas stations and EV charging stations, with no cap; gas at warehouse clubs, superstores, and grocery stores may earn 1 point
• Cost: $0 annual fee; no foreign transaction fee; 0% interest on purchases for the first 12 months, then 18.74%, 24.74%, or 28.74% variable
• Features: Welcome bonus of 20,000 points, worth $200, after $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months; cell phone protection up to $600 per claim with a $25 deductible; one-for-one point transfers to select travel loyalty programs
• Pros: Uncapped bonus categories; paying the phone bill with it earns 3 points and helps offset the bill; no foreign transaction fee
• Cons: 1 point per dollar on groceries; third-party delivery services and streaming billed through another company may earn 1 point; no 0% offer on balance transfers

For more information, read our full Wells Fargo Autograph® Card Review.

U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card

Frequent takeout and delivery customers earn 4 points per dollar on the first $2,000 of dining each quarter, including takeout and restaurant delivery, then 1 point per dollar after that.

• Best for: People who eat out or order takeout often and want no annual fee; U.S. Bank checking or savings customers
• What Sets It Apart: 4 points per dollar on dining, takeout, and restaurant delivery with no annual fee; $15 streaming credit each year
• Cost: $0 annual fee; 3% foreign transaction fee; 0% interest for 15 billing cycles, then 17.74% to 27.74% variable; 5% balance transfer fee ($5 minimum)
• Rewards: 4 points per dollar on the first $2,000 of dining each quarter, then 1 point; 2 points per dollar at supermarkets, gas stations, and EV charging stations, and on eligible streaming services; 1 point per dollar on everything else; points are worth 1 cent each when deposited into a U.S. Bank account
• Welcome Offer: 20,000 bonus points after $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days
• Pros: No annual fee; dining bonus includes takeout and restaurant delivery; $15 streaming credit; 15 billing cycles at 0% interest
• Cons: Dining bonus ends at $2,000 per quarter; 3% foreign transaction fee; statement credits can be worth less than a U.S. Bank deposit; Walmart, Target, and warehouse clubs earn 1 point on groceries and gas

For more information, read our full U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card Review.

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card

Diners whose restaurant, grocery, and wholesale club spending stays under $2,500 per quarter can make dining the 3% category and earn 6% there in the first year.

• Best for: Households with steady spending in one category, such as gas, dining, or online shopping; Bank of America customers who qualify for a Rewards boost
• What Sets It Apart: A 3% category you choose and can change once a month; BofA Rewards adds 10% to 75%, up to 5.25% in the category
• Cost: $0 annual fee; 3% foreign transaction fee; 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and on balance transfers made in the first 60 days, then 17.74% to 27.74% variable; balance transfer fee of 3% for the first 60 days, then 5%
• Features: 3% on gas and EV charging, the default category, or on online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement; 6% in the chosen category during the first year; 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs; 3% and 2% on up to $2,500 in combined purchases per quarter, then 1%; $200 bonus after $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days
• Pros: Phone, internet, cable, and streaming bills count as online shopping; cash back in any amount; rewards do not expire while the account is open
• Cons: $2,500 quarterly cap shared with groceries and wholesale clubs; 1% after the cap; 3% foreign transaction fee

For more information, read our full Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card Review.

Verizon Visa® Card

Verizon wireless or Fios account holders earn an uncapped 4% at restaurants, including takeout and delivery, as well as at grocery stores and gas stations, paid in Verizon Dollars that can be redeemed as statement credits.

• Best for: Verizon wireless and Fios customers who plan to stay; households that spend heavily on groceries, gas, and dining
• What Sets It Apart: Uncapped 4% in Verizon Dollars; statement credits at $1 per Verizon Dollar; the only credit card that qualifies for Verizon’s Auto Pay discount
• Cost: $0 annual fee; no foreign transaction fee; 22.24%, 27.24%, or 33.24% variable purchase APR
• Features: 4% on groceries, gas, electric vehicle charging, restaurants, and Verizon devices and accessories; 1% on the Verizon bill and everything else; $150 statement credit after one purchase in the first 90 days; two free TravelPass days a year
• Pros: No cap on the 4% categories; rewards can be used as statement credits; Auto Pay discount on a credit card
• Cons: Verizon customers only; unused Verizon Dollars are forfeited when you leave Verizon; 1% outside the 4% categories; big-box grocery purchases may not earn 4%

For more information, read our full Verizon Visa® Card Review.

With an annual fee

American Express® Gold Card

Households with large restaurant and supermarket bills earn 4 points per dollar on up to $50,000 a year at restaurants and $25,000 at U.S. supermarkets, plus $424 in annual dining and Uber credits.

• Best for: Heavy restaurant and supermarket spenders who book flights with points; regular Uber, Grubhub, and Dunkin’ customers
• What Sets It Apart: 4X points at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets; $424 a year in dining, Uber, Resy, and Dunkin’ credits
• Cost: $325 annual fee; no foreign transaction fee; 19.74% to 28.74% variable APR on Pay Over Time balances
• Welcome Offer: Up to 100,000 points after $8,000 in purchases in 6 months; exact offer, if any, shown before you accept
• Rewards: 4X at restaurants (up to $50,000 a year) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000); 5X on prepaid Amex Travel hotels; 3X on flights booked with airlines or Amex Travel; 1X elsewhere; points are worth 1 cent on Amex Travel flights or 0.6 cent as a statement credit
• Rideshare: $10 in Uber Cash each month for Uber rides and Uber Eats orders in the U.S.; unused Uber Cash expires at the end of each month; Uber and Lyft rides earn 1X
• Dining Credits: Up to $10 a month at Grubhub, Seamless, Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder; up to $50 every six months at Resy restaurants; up to $7 a month at Dunkin’; enrollment required; unused amounts do not roll over
• Pros: 4X on restaurant meals abroad with no foreign transaction fee; welcome offer worth up to $1,000 toward Amex Travel flights; no annual fee on up to five additional cards
• Cons: Points are worth 0.6 cent as statement credits; dining credits require enrollment and do not roll over; no airport lounge access

For more information, read our full American Express® Gold Card Review.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Diners who book at least one hotel through Chase Travel each year can receive up to a $100 hotel credit, enough to cover the $95 fee, along with 3 points per dollar on dining, including takeout and eligible delivery.

• Best for: Travelers who book at least one hotel stay a year through Chase Travel
• What Sets It Apart: A $100 annual Chase Travel hotel credit that offsets the $95 fee, plus transfers to airline and hotel programs
• Cost: $95 annual fee; no foreign transaction fee; 19.49% to 27.74% variable APR; balance transfer fee 5% (minimum $5)
• Features: 75,000 points after $5,000 in purchases in 3 months; 5x on Chase Travel; 3x on dining, gas, EV charging, streaming, and online grocery; up to $120 every four years for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS
• Pros: $100 hotel credit can exceed the $95 fee; primary rental car coverage; trip cancellation and trip delay coverage
• Cons: Credit applies only to Chase Travel hotel bookings, which typically do not earn hotel loyalty points; 1x on non-bonus purchases; Points Boost is limited to select bookings; no intro APR

For more information, read our full Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Review.

Citi Strata Premier® Card

Households that spend heavily at restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations can earn 3 points per dollar in all three categories, with no cap, plus $100 off one Citi Travel hotel stay of $500 or more each year.

• Best for: Households with high spending at restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations who will transfer points to airlines
• What Sets It Apart: 3X points on dining, including takeout and delivery, plus supermarkets, gas, airfare, and hotels; transfers to 15 airline and five hotel programs; $100 off one Citi Travel hotel stay each year
• Cost: $95 annual fee; no foreign transaction fee; 19.74% to 27.74% variable interest rate
• Features: 60,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months; 10X on Citi Travel bookings of hotels, car rentals, and attractions; 3X on air travel, hotels booked elsewhere, restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and electric-vehicle charging; 1X on everything else
• Pros: No cap on points; most airline transfers at 1 mile per point; trip delay, trip cancellation, lost luggage, and rental car coverage
• Cons: Points are worth 1 cent each through Citi Travel; 1X outside the bonus categories; warehouse clubs and discount stores do not earn the supermarket or gas bonus

For more information, read our full Citi Strata Premier® Card Review.

Bilt Obsidian Card

Renters who dine out can earn 3 points per dollar on dining, the default bonus category, with no cap, and earn points on rent paid through Bilt with no transaction fee.

• Best for: Renters who spend $400 or more a month on dining or groceries; regulars at Bilt’s partner restaurants
• What Sets It Apart: 3X on dining or groceries, your choice; rent and mortgage payments that earn points with no card fee; one-to-one transfers to most of Bilt’s airline and hotel partners
• Cost: $95 annual fee; $50 per authorized user; no foreign transaction fees
• Features: $200 in Bilt Cash at account opening; $100 a year in hotel credits on two-night stays booked through Bilt, by default $100 in yearly Bilt Cash in 2027; 2X on airfare, hotels, cruises, and car rentals booked directly; 3X for flights and 4X for hotels booked through Bilt’s travel portal; a Point Accelerator that trades $200 in Bilt Cash for an extra 1X on your next $5,000 of purchases
• Pros: No card fee on rent paid through Bilt; uncapped 3X dining; up to 6X at Bilt’s partner restaurants when dining is your chosen category; trip cancellation, trip delay, lost luggage, and extended warranty coverage
• Cons: One 3X category, locked until January; 1X on other purchases; grocery 3X capped at $25,000 a year; only 250 points per billing cycle on rent while other card spending stays under 25% of it

For more information, read our full Bilt Obsidian Card Review.

Most diners will do better with a no-fee card whose bonus category matches where they already spend. Move to an annual-fee card only when the credits you can actually use are worth more than the fee and you plan to redeem points for travel.