The Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) and its more budget-friendly sibling, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees), are among the best travel credit cards due to their amazing earning rates.
They both earn 3 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on dining purchases worldwide, plus 4 points per dollar spent on flights and hotels booked direct on the Sapphire Reserve* and 2 points per dollar spent on all travel for the Sapphire Preferred. Additionally, (through Sept. 30, 2027), the cards earn 5 points per dollar spent on Lyft rides.
*New cardholders who applied for the Sapphire Reserve on June 23 and beyond have access to the 4 points per dollar spent earning rate. Existing Sapphire Reserve cardholders will get access to this elevated earning rate starting Oct. 26.
Chase’s definition of what counts as a travel purchase is quite broad, including virtually every trip-related charge, from Airbnb bookings to parking fees. But how does its definition of dining stack up? Luckily, it’s quite generous as well.
‘Restaurants,’ according to Chase
Here’s how “restaurants” are defined, according to Chase’s website:
‘This category’s merchants’ primary business is sit-down or eat-in dining, including fast food restaurants and fine dining establishments. Merchants that sell food and drinks located within facilities such as sports stadiums, hotels and casinos, theme parks, grocery and department stores will not be included in this category unless the merchant has set up such purchases to be classified in a restaurant category. Bakeries, caterers, meal kit delivery services, and gift card merchants are not included in the category. Delivery and takeout services will be included if they classify as a restaurant merchant.’
While the term “restaurants” is pretty straightforward, in practice, this category is broader than it appears on the surface. Essentially, any establishment that serves (as opposed to sells) food or drinks counts.
The purchase will qualify if a merchant classifies itself in a restaurant category when applying to accept credit cards.
For instance, bars (including ones that don’t serve food) and coffee shops such as Starbucks typically code as dining purchases. In most cases, you’ll earn 3 points per dollar spent with restaurant delivery services, including DoorDash and Uber Eats.
: Best dining credit cards
What does Chase typically count as dining purchases?
- Bars
- Breweries
- Cafes
- Coffee shops
- Fast food restaurants
- Juiceries
- Restaurant delivery services (Caviar, DoorDash, Eat24, Grubhub and Seamless, but not Postmates)
- Restaurants
- University dining halls
- Vending machines
What does Chase typically not count as dining purchases?
- Bakeries
- Catering services
- Food and drink establishments located within larger merchants
- Grocery stores
- In-flight food and drinks
- Meal kit subscriptions
As an added restaurant delivery perk, Chase Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve cardholders also currently get at least one year of complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership, which gives you free delivery and reduced service fees on eligible purchases (must activate by Dec. 31, 2027).
While it’s uncommon, sometimes restaurants aren’t categorized correctly, so if you feel like an eligible dining purchase didn’t code properly, you can always try disputing it with a Chase representative to get the bonus points you think you deserve.
: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Sapphire Reserve: Should you go mid-tier or premium?
Bottom line
Chase’s definition of a dining purchase is quite extensive, so Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve cardholders have plenty of opportunities to earn 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent. Based on TPG’s July 2025 valuations, that’s a return of up to 6.15% on these purchases.
Plus, you could earn even more rewards by linking your card with dining rewards programs such as inKind, Rakuten or Seated.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve with 100,000 bonus points and a $500 Chase Travel℠ promo credit after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card with 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.