I am the kind of traveler who will plan a whole journey round nice meals.
I really like experiencing locations and cultures via their meals, so whether or not I am at residence or on the street, eating out is considered one of my largest bills.
Dining out has solely gotten dearer lately. Thankfully, a number of of the travel rewards cards I carry provide eating assertion credit that not solely save me cash on meals all year long but additionally assist offset their annual charges.
Listed below are a number of the playing cards I preserve in my pockets particularly for his or her eating assertion credit (amongst different causes) and the way I be certain that to maximise them.
For upscale date nights: Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) will get numerous consideration for its numerous travel perks, but it surely additionally has an especially priceless dining benefit.
Cardholders can earn as much as $300 in assertion credit every calendar 12 months cut up into two biannual credit of as much as $150 every from January-June and July-December when utilizing their card to pay for meals at Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables eating places on OpenTable (no prepayment, fee or reservation via OpenTable is required).
This system simply began final 12 months, however there are already eligible eating places in dozens of U.S. cities.
My husband and I used considered one of these credit final fall on the fancy French-Californian bistro, Jeune et Jolie, within the coastal hamlet of Carlsbad, simply north of San Diego. We used our first credit score of 2026 on the one-Michelin-star Thai restaurant, Anajak, close to our residence in L.A.
Each have been fabulous, and the $150 assertion credit score made the expertise even sweeter.
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I additionally make a degree of utilizing this profit for eating places I might already deliberate to go to, somewhat than selecting one just because it is eligible. That is how I be certain that the credit score saves me actual cash as an alternative of encouraging additional spending.
Associated: Chase Sapphire Reserve review: A premium card for power travelers
Scrumptious financial savings for foodies: The Amex Gold
The American Express® Gold Card fees a substantial annual payment of $325 (see rates and fees), however I make up for that value just from the card’s dining perks.
Particularly, the cardboard provides:
- As much as $100 in annual assertion credit on eating at eligible U.S. Resy eating places while you use your card to pay; as much as $50 from January-June and as much as $50 from July-December.
- As much as $120 in annual assertion credit (as much as $10 per 30 days) at Grubhub (together with Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, 5 Guys, The Cheesecake Manufacturing facility and Surprise.
- As much as $120 in Uber Money ($10 per 30 days) for U.S. Uber and Uber Eats orders†
- As much as $84 per calendar 12 months (as much as $7 per 30 days) in assertion credit for U.S. Dunkin’ purchases.
Additionally, in celebration of the Amex Gold’s sixtieth anniversary, Amex is together with a one-time assertion credit score of as much as $96 for an annual Uber One membership (enroll by Oct. 30).
These 4 advantages alone quantity to $424 in annual worth I can use, $520 when you embrace the one-time Uber One membership.
Enrollment is required for all advantages.
†Uber Money will solely be deposited into one Uber account while you add the Amex Gold as a fee methodology and redeem with any Amex card.
I dwell in Los Angeles and repeatedly book restaurants through Resy, in order that credit score comes and goes earlier than I even understand it more often than not. Most lately, I used it at an Italian restaurant, Funke in Beverly Hills, for my husband’s birthday. As a result of I knew we have been getting $50 off the ultimate tally, we splurged on just a few desserts.
My husband and I additionally repeatedly order from our favourite native Thai and Mediterranean eating places on Grubhub and stand up to $10 in assertion credit each month.
I am going to admit, I do not all the time get to a Dunkin’ to make use of that credit score, however I do love popping in for a espresso after I see one.
Lastly, though I typically use the cardboard’s Uber credit score for rides, as a rule, I am going to truly simply put it towards an order from an ideal sandwich store close to me referred to as Ggiata, which serves heaping subs. The bonus is that my order is normally delivered by a cute robotic!
Associated: American Express Gold Card review: The best card for foodies
Modest financial savings month after month: Marriott Bonvoy Sensible Amex
I lately utilized for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card throughout a current limited-time elevated welcome offer (now not obtainable). I used to be wowed by the bonus factors I might earn in addition to the cardboard’s sturdy set of advantages, which simply occur to incorporate up to $300 in dining statement credits annually.
This is without doubt one of the best credit for me to maximise as a result of I merely go away the cardboard in my pockets and use it for one cheap restaurant buy each month. I haven’t got to alter my spending habits; I simply have to recollect which card to make use of.
Cardholders can earn as much as $25 in assertion credit towards eligible restaurant purchases worldwide each calendar month. That is as much as $300 in annual assertion credit over 12 months, which is sort of half the cardboard’s $695 annual payment (see rates and fees).
Better part is I plan to get much more worth than that due to the perks I am going to obtain with the automatic Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status.
Associated: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex review: Marriott’s most premium card
Takeout and eating in: Citi/AAdvantage Government
I really like the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees) particularly as a result of it gives complimentary Admirals Club membership and opportunities to boost your elite status.
However even I typically neglect that this card additionally provides an announcement credit score of as much as $10 per month-to-month billing assertion on eligible Grubhub purchases, totaling as much as $120 per 12 months.
Thankfully, as a result of we already order via Grubhub repeatedly, remembering to make use of the credit score normally does not require altering our routine. Mixed with my Amex Gold’s as much as $10 month-to-month eating assertion credit score (which can be utilized with Grubhub), we obtain as much as $240 annually towards meals supply we might be ordering anyway.
Associated: Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard review: Complimentary Admirals Club membership
One card I am contemplating for even larger eating financial savings
Whereas I do not presently carry the American Express Platinum Card®, I am enthusiastic about getting it due to its benefits bonanza, considered one of which is as much as $400 in assertion credit per 12 months when eating at eligible U.S. Resy eating places.
Cardholders stand up to $100 in assertion credit every quarter when utilizing their card to pay at eligible U.S. eating places affiliated with Resy (enrollment required). Merely pay together with your Amex Platinum at an eligible U.S. Resy restaurant; no reservation is required.
So when you dine out at Resy eating places, this could be a big financial savings.
I am personally contemplating whether or not I am going to maximize this card’s different advantages earlier than making use of, however the Resy credit score alone has me enthusiastic about it.
Associated: Amex Platinum Card review: Steep annual fee but loads of new perks to match
Backside line
There is no doubt that eating out has gotten dearer recently. Thankfully, I save greater than $1,000 annually on eating places and meals supply with out altering my habits.
Whereas some credit are straightforward to make use of, others require month-to-month monitoring. Nonetheless, given the worth these perks provide for my particular wants, in addition to the opposite advantages these playing cards provide, I plan to maintain them in my pockets in the interim.
When you’re contemplating a card with eating credit, I might advocate focusing much less on the greenback quantity and extra on whether or not you will truly use the profit. The perfect assertion credit score is the one you do not have to exit of your strategy to redeem.
Associated: Monthly checklist: Credit card perks and benefits you should be using
For charges and charges of the Amex Gold card, click on here.
For charges and charges of the Marriott Bonvoy Sensible Amex, click on here.
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