What Counts as a "Dining" Purchase on Your Credit Card?
Whether a purchase earns your dining bonus depends entirely on the merchant's MCC (Merchant Category Code). Here is the complete reference for what counts and what does not.
Dining MCC Codes
| MCC Code | Category | Examples | Counts as Dining? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5812 | Eating Places, Restaurants | Full-service restaurants, cafes, bakeries, food trucks, coffee shops | Yes (all cards) |
| 5813 | Drinking Places (Bars, Taverns) | Bars, pubs, cocktail lounges, breweries, wine bars | Yes (most cards) |
| 5814 | Fast Food Restaurants | McDonald's, Burger King, Subway, Taco Bell, Chick-fil-A | Yes (all cards) |
| 5411 | Grocery Stores | Kroger, Safeway, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's | No (grocery) |
| 5499 | Miscellaneous Food Stores | Convenience stores, specialty food shops, Gopuff | No |
| 5462 | Bakeries | Standalone bakeries (some code as 5812) | Sometimes |
| 5441 | Candy, Confections | Candy stores, chocolate shops, ice cream shops | No (usually) |
What Definitely Counts as Dining
What Does NOT Count as Dining
Edge Cases
Starbucks
Standalone Starbucks locations code as 5812 (eating places) and count as dining. Starbucks inside grocery stores (like Kroger or Target) may code under the parent store's MCC (5411 grocery or 5311 department store), meaning no dining bonus.
Food Halls
Food halls vary wildly. If you pay individual vendors, each has its own MCC (usually 5812). If the food hall processes all payments centrally, it may code as 5812 or as 5499 (miscellaneous food). Check your statement the first time.
Ghost Kitchens
Ghost kitchens (delivery-only restaurants) typically code as 5812 when ordered directly. When ordered through DoorDash or Uber Eats, the delivery app's MCC applies (also 5812). Either way, ghost kitchens usually count as dining.
Costco Food Court
The Costco food court codes under Costco's MCC (5300, wholesale clubs), not as a restaurant. You will not earn dining bonus rates on Costco food court purchases. The same applies to Sam's Club and BJ's cafes.
How to Check a Merchant's MCC Code
- Check your statement: Most card apps show the merchant category after a transaction posts. Look for the category label (e.g., "Restaurants" or "Dining").
- Make a small test purchase: Buy something small at the merchant and check how it codes on your statement the next day.
- Ask the merchant: Merchants can look up their MCC through their payment processor.
- Use an MCC lookup tool: Sites like MCC-codes.findthedata.com or Visa's merchant data tool can help identify categories.
FAQ
Does Starbucks count as dining on credit cards?
Yes. Standalone Starbucks locations code as MCC 5812 (eating places), which earns dining bonuses on all major cards. Mobile orders through the Starbucks app also code as 5812. Starbucks inside grocery stores or Target may code under the parent store's MCC instead.
Do bars count as restaurants for credit card rewards?
Yes. Bars code as MCC 5813 (drinking places), which is included in the dining category on nearly every major card. Breweries, wine bars, and cocktail lounges also qualify. See our full bars and nightlife guide.
Does fast food count as dining?
Yes. Fast food restaurants code as MCC 5814, which all major credit cards include in their dining category. McDonald's, Burger King, Subway, Taco Bell, Chick-fil-A, and all major chains qualify for dining bonus rates.
Why did my restaurant purchase not earn dining bonus rates?
The most common reasons: the merchant has an unusual MCC code (some restaurants register as grocery or general retail), you exceeded a spending cap on your card, or the purchase was at a restaurant inside another store (Starbucks inside Target, etc.). Check your statement for the category label.
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Updated 9 April 2026