Buzz
With food being the third-largest expense for American families, not taking advantage of cash-back rewards on groceries and dining out means missing out on significant savings.
Welcome to Cheap Chow Week! With food prices higher than ever, it might seem like your only affordable choices are fast food or instant ramen. But it doesn’t have to be that way. This week, we’ll show you how to shop, cook, and enjoy meals in a cost-effective way, without compromising on taste or enjoyment.
According to Greg Johnson, a credit card expert at Club Thrifty, the best restaurant cards typically offer two points for every dollar spent, though some provide even better rewards, as shared with Credit Karma.
Here are the top cards recommended by Credit Karma, NerdWallet, and The Points Guy:
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: Earn 3% cash back on eligible dining purchases (including Starbucks) and 2% back on groceries. Plus, no foreign transaction fees—perfect for the traveler who loves good food.
Chase Sapphire Reserve: Earn 3 points per dollar on dining. Be mindful of the hefty $450 annual fee. (The Chase Sapphire Preferred is also a solid option.)
Costco Anywhere Card: Earn 3% back on dining, 2% back on Costco purchases, 4% back on gas, and 1% on all other purchases. Ideal for Costco shoppers, but other cards may be better for non-members.
PNC Cash Rewards Card: Earn 3% back on dining, 2% back on groceries, and 4% back on gas.
Uber Visa Card: Earn 4% back on eligible dining purchases, including restaurants, bars, UberEATS delivery, and fast food. You’ll also earn 3% back on select hotel and airfare purchases, 2% on eligible online shopping, and 1% on all other purchases.
When applying for a credit card, it’s important to consider more than just dining rewards. Many of the cards listed above require good to excellent credit, but if you're financially responsible, you'll have plenty of great options to maximize your cash-back rewards.
