Maximize Dining Rewards with Chase Sapphire Cards

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card are two of the premier travel credit cards available today, celebrated for their exceptional earning potential. Both cards offer cardholders 3 Chase Ultimate Rewards points for every dollar spent on dining worldwide. The Sapphire Reserve takes it a step further, providing 4 points per dollar on flights and hotels booked directly, while the Sapphire Preferred offers 2 points per dollar on all travel-related purchases. Additionally, until September 30, 2027, both cards earn an impressive 5 points per dollar spent on Lyft rides.

For new cardholders who applied for the Sapphire Reserve on or after June 23, 2023, the 4 points per dollar earning rate is immediately available. Existing Sapphire Reserve cardholders will gain access to this elevated earning rate starting October 26, 2023.

Chase has a broad definition of what constitutes a travel purchase, encompassing a wide array of expenses related to travel—from Airbnb bookings to parking fees. But what about dining purchases? Fortunately, Chase’s definition of dining is quite generous, allowing cardholders to maximize their rewards.

According to Chase’s guidelines, the “restaurants” category includes merchants whose primary business is sit-down or eat-in dining. This encompasses a variety of establishments, from fast food joints to fine dining restaurants. However, some locations, such as grocery stores, hotels, and theme parks, may not qualify unless they specifically classify their food and drink sales under the restaurant category. Notably, bakeries, caterers, meal kit delivery services, and gift card merchants are excluded. However, delivery and takeout services are typically included if they operate as restaurant merchants.

In practice, the dining category is broader than it might initially appear. Any establishment that serves food or drinks qualifies, provided they are classified correctly when applying to accept credit cards. This means that bars (even those that don’t serve food) and coffee shops like Starbucks generally count as dining purchases. Most restaurant delivery services, such as DoorDash and Uber Eats, also earn cardholders 3 points per dollar spent.

Currently, Chase Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve cardholders enjoy at least one year of complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership, which provides free delivery and reduced service fees on eligible purchases. To take advantage of this offer, activation is required by December 31, 2027.

While it’s rare, there are instances where restaurants may not be categorized correctly. If you notice that an eligible dining purchase didn’t code properly, you can dispute it with a Chase representative to potentially receive the bonus points you believe you deserve.

Chase’s extensive definition of dining purchases means that Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve cardholders have numerous opportunities to earn 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent. According to TPG’s July 2025 valuations, this can yield a return of up to 6.15% on dining purchases.

To enhance your rewards further, consider linking your card with dining rewards programs such as inKind, Rakuten, or Seated. This strategy can help you accumulate even more points when dining out.

If you’re interested in applying for one of these cards, the Chase Sapphire Reserve currently offers a sign-up bonus of 100,000 points and a $500 Chase Travel℠ promo credit after spending $5,000 within the first three months of account opening. Meanwhile, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers 75,000 bonus points after the same spending threshold within the first three months.

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