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.
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.
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
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