Best Credit Card For Dining in India

A bad day at the office, grabbing a quick bite, meeting friends, or just too lazy to cook; regardless of the reason, all of us are pros when it comes to dining out. If you look into your transactions, at least a couple of thousand bucks would have been spent on eating out every month. 

But, what if there were reward points to be earned for every buck that you spend when dining out? Wouldn’t it save you a lot of money?

In that case, a dining card could very well be your knight in shining armor.

What Are Dining Credit Cards?

Dining credit cards can make a world of difference to your wallet whenever you wish to eat out. These credit cards offer several exciting dining deals, such as discounts and freebies at a wide range of partner restaurants and food outlets all across the globe.

Now, you may have another question.

Is It Only for Foodies? 

No. It can be for each one of us. The dining card allows you to earn exclusive dining privileges even while you slurp through a delicious Ramen bowl. However, not all credit cards offer privileges on dining expenditure. Regardless of whether you're a foodie or not, you must select a credit card that can help you save. So, make sure to have a credit card that delivers exclusive dining benefits.

What Types of Dining Credit Card Offers Are Usually Available?

Now that you know you can earn while enjoying a meal at any of your favorite restaurants, it's time to take note of the different types of dining privileges offered by dining cards.

Discounts - The first thing you earn is loads of discounts. You can avail anywhere between 5% to 40% off on your bill. However, discounts depend on the restaurants and their terms and conditions. So, you might get discounts either on your total bill, food bill, or just on drinks. Alternatively, you can even avail discounts on a minimum amount, only by swiping your dining credit card at your favorite restaurant.

Complimentary Rewards - Who doesn't love complimentary benefits when dining out? With a dining card, you are entitled to complimentary drinks, appetizers, or even starters - generally at partner restaurants. You can also enjoy a complimentary drink at airport lounges to revive you from all that travel fatigue. So, the next time you visit your favorite restaurant, present the card, and voila!

Exclusive Offers - What about a date night with your partner? The buy one-get one free deal can get you drinks and food for both - all at the cost of one! It not only helps you to save some big bucks, but also lets you indulge in the food without worrying about the hefty bill.

Quick Reward Points -  What if you could earn reward points just nibbling on some munchies? Guess what, you can earn 10 to 15 times more reward points on dining out than on regular spending. In a nutshell, with a dining credit card, you can enjoy your food at a discounted price, and earn more privileges in fewer transactions.

Cashback Offers - Another additional perk of dining credit cards is the cashback offer. With these cards, you could receive a percentage of your dining bill amount as cashback to your account. And thus, it allows you to enjoy a delicious meal at a lower price.

What Are the Best Dining Cards in India Currently?

The Indian credit card market is abuzz with a plethora of dining cards that can make you happy. If you are one of those seeking a dining credit card, here's the list of the top cards available right now.

HDFC Regalia Card

You can get exclusive dining offers at excellent partner restaurants across India without burning a hole in your pocket. Dining out gets a lot more relaxed with this card in hand.

Features at a Glance

• You can get a maximum discount of 15% on dining at any partnered restaurants all across India.

• You can use the contactless card at various merchant establishments for quick transactions.

• You can earn upto 15,000 bonus points on spending Rs.8 lakh a year.

• Along with dining privileges, you can get a membership to the Priority Pass Program, which offers you access to 1200+ airport lounges across the globe.

• You can also sign up for Complimentary Club Vistara Silver Membership. It lets you earn nine reward CV points for every Rs.100 you spend on booking Vistara flights. 

Annual Fee – Rs.2,500

HDFC Platinum Times Credit Card

This dining credit card by HDFC offers perks on movie tickets and fuel expenses, apart from dining.

Features at a Glance

• Enjoy a 20% discount on dining expenses made at any partner outlets. Besides, you can earn 10 reward points on every Rs.150 spent during the weekdays.

• It's a plus if you are a movie buff, as you can get a discount of 25% on movie tickets.

• Your fuel expenses would also yield an annual savings of Rs.1,500 with this card.

Annual Fee – Rs.1,000

ICICI Bank Instant Platinum Credit Card

The perks available on this card are remarkable, especially since they come with no annual fee whatsoever!

Features at a Glance

• You get to sign up for the Culinary Treats Program, which offers a minimum discount of 15% at more than 800 restaurants across India.

• You can avail of a discount of Rs.100 on up to 2 tickets a month on bookmyshow.

• Besides, you can redeem the reward points earned on the card as cash.

Annual Fee – NIL

ICICI Bank Rubyx Credit Card

With this card, you can get a minimum discount of 15% at more than 2,500 restaurants in India, be it dining out with family or friends.

Features at a Glance

• As a welcome voucher, you can get a coupon worth Rs.500 for shopping and travel.

• Plus, you can get two complimentary movie tickets a month on bookmyshow in.

• You also get two complimentary passes to domestic airport and railway lounges every quarter.

• Every international transaction that you make earns you over 2X reward points.

Annual Fee – Rs.2,000

To Sum Up

Dining cards can add considerable value to your wallet and your dining experience. However, make sure that you understand the nitty-gritty and get a card that suits your dining lifestyle. If you are still unable to decide on the best card that caters to your needs, mymoneykarma is there for. Here's a start - make sure you check your credit score before applying for any card, or loan for that matter.

Happy savings on dining out!