Some advertisements and offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us. That may influence which products we write about, but it does not affect what we write about them. Here's an explanation of how we make money and our Advertiser Disclosure.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Best for bonus categories
- Annual fee$0
- Welcome offerLimited-time only: Earn a $250 Bonus after you spend $500 in your first 3 months
- Rewards rate
- Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants (includes takeout and eligible delivery service)
- 1.5% on all other purchases
The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a surprisingly powerful card that is great for everyday, non-bonus spending. You will earn at least 1.5% cash back on all purchases with no annual fee. However, it becomes a standout card if you pair it with a card that earns transferable Ultimate Rewards points, doubling its potential value.
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Best for dining in and out
- Annual fee$0
- Welcome offerEarn $200 cash back after spending $500 on purchases in the first 3 months
- Rewards rate
- 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
- 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target)
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
Why we like this card for restaurants: The Capital One Savor Card is one of our all-around favorite cash-back credit cards, and it offers big savings when you dine out. For one, it makes a great everyday option if a big portion of your monthly budget goes toward entertainment and food — including both groceries for home and dining out away from home.
Other added benefits include a generous introductory APR on new purchases and balance transfers, plus access to Capital One Dining, which you can use to make reservations and access exclusive events.
Compared to some other cards on our list, the Capital One Savor offers a slightly lower 3% return at restaurants. However, we still like it for other complementary rewards categories and a $0 annual fee.
- Annual fee$325
- Welcome offerEarn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first 6 months
- Rewards rate
- 4x Membership Rewards Points at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x)
- 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x)
- 3x Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com
- 2x Membership Rewards points on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com
- 1x Membership Rewards points on all other eligible purchases
- Benefits
- Earn up to $10 in statement credits each month when you pay with your American Express Gold Card at Five Guys, Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, and Wine.com (enrollment required)
- Up to $100 in annual statement credits ($50 semi-annually) when you use your American Express Gold Card on eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants on the Resy app or Resy.com
- Up to $84 per year ($7/month) in statement credits after you enroll and pay with your American Express Gold Card at more than 9,000 U.S. Dunkin’® locations
Why we like this card for restaurants: When it comes to ongoing value for restaurant spending, you’re not likely to find a more rewarding option than the Amex Gold. Just to start, it offers 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants. This includes in-person dining worldwide (a great way to rack up points when traveling abroad) and takeout and delivery in the U.S.
If you’re concerned about the $325 annual fee, annual credits can help lower the cost. Each year, you can get more than $420 back on restaurant spending, between credits for Resy restaurants, Dunkin’ spending, Uber Cash, and dining credits when you order from Goldbelly or go to Five Guys.
Nevertheless, this card is generally best for restaurant lovers who also like to travel. The card’s other major way to earn rewards is on flight purchases and the Membership Rewards you earn are most valuable when used toward travel redemptions like airfare.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Best for premium travel rewards for value
- Annual fee$550
- Welcome offerEarn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
- Rewards rate
- 10x points on hotels and rental cars purchased through Chase Travel℠*
- 5x points on flights purchased through Chase Travel*
- 3x points on dining and other travel purchases
- 1x points on all other purchases
- *After the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
With a $300 travel credit, generous points on dining and travel purchases, multiple bonus categories, and luxury travel perks, you can get excellent value that far exceeds the annual fee on the card.
Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
