Dining out is a significant expense for many of us in Malaysia, particularly as restaurant prices continue to rise.
As always, I’m here to guide you through selecting the credit cards that offer the most miles for your dining expenses. This is particularly vital if, like me, a substantial portion of your monthly budget is allocated to eating at restaurants.
Additionally, it’s important to know which credit cards grant points specifically for spending at certain types of dining establishments, such as cafes and beverage outlets.
Surprisingly, not every card that lists ‘Dining’ as a bonus category will reward you when you pay at places like Starbucks. Let’s explore the best credit cards for maximizing your dining spend in Malaysia.
Let's dive in. Take note that the credit cards are not ranked in any particular order below. If you want to see the full ranking in order of MPR, check out my Ultimate Category-Specific Guide.
UOB Visa Infinite Metal Card
The UOB Visa Infinite Metal Card is undisputedly the most prestigious credit card for earning airline miles through dining expenses available in Malaysia.
Offering a 1.11 Miles per Ringgit (MPR) on dining, it surpasses any other premium credit cards in the region. However, it carries a substantial annual fee of RM3,000. Eligibility for this card requires having Assets Under Management (AUM) of at least RM3 million with UOB Malaysia.
This credit card is designed for the crème de la crème—individuals for whom earning airline miles is more of a bonus than a necessity, as they are likely in a position to purchase business or first class tickets outright.
Typically, holders of this card frequent the most exclusive restaurants and upscale food and beverage establishments in Malaysia. Thus, the required minimum dining spend of RM1,000 monthly to earn the 1.11 MPR is effortlessly manageable for such elite cardholders.
UOB Visa Infinite/UOB Privilege Banking Visa Infinite
If the UOB Visa Infinite Metal Card has captured your interest, you’ll be pleased to discover that UOB Malaysia also offers impressive UNIRM bonuses for dining expenditures on its premium cards—the UOB Visa Infinite and the UOB Privilege Banking Visa Infinite.
Both cards provide an attractive 0.55 Miles per Ringgit (MPR) on local dining, contingent upon a minimum monthly spend of RM1,000—a threshold that is easily met by frequent diners.
While this rate is essentially half of what the UOB Visa Infinite Metal Card offers, these cards remain excellent choices for avid diners, especially considering the manageable RM1,000 spend requirement.
With an annual income requirement of RM120,000 and an annual fee of RM600—which can be waived upon spending RM50,000 per year—these cards are standout options for anyone looking to optimize their dining rewards within the UOB card ecosystem.
CIMB Preferred Visa Infinite
Next in line, the CIMB Preferred Visa Infinite stands as CIMB’s premier offering in its credit card portfolio, providing a solid base of 0.64 Miles per Ringgit (MPR) on dining.
Impressively, this MPR can increase to 0.92 if you achieve a monthly spend of at least RM10,000. As befits a Preferred card, eligibility requires maintaining an Assets Under Management (AUM) of at least RM250,000 with CIMB. However, it’s important to note that this enhanced MPR rate is part of a limited-time promotion, set to expire on 30th September 2024.
Given the card’s popularity since the promotion’s inception in January 2024, it’s conceivable that CIMB might extend this offer. Additionally, the CIMB Preferred Visa Infinite does not charge an annual fee, allowing cardholders to accrue significant airline miles as long as they meet the AUM requirements.
CIMB Visa Infinite
Continuing with CIMB’s card lineup, the CIMB Visa Infinite stands as their mid-tier option, offering a base 0.4 Miles per Ringgit (MPR) on Dining. This MPR can be elevated to 0.64 with a monthly dining spend of at least RM5,000.
A significant advantage of this card is its lack of annual fees, coupled with a relatively accessible annual income requirement of RM60,000. For those looking to dive into the world of airline miles, this requirement is quite reasonable and positions the CIMB Visa Infinite as an attractive entry point for aspiring mile collectors.
Standard Chartered Journey Mastercard
The Standard Chartered Journey Mastercard, a card that’s quickly gaining traction in the airline miles arena, presents a strong case for itself as a dining credit card.
Relatively new to a market dominated by giants like UOB and CIMB, this card offers a competitive 0.5 Miles per Ringgit (MPR) on dining without any minimum spend requirements or additional conditions.
Although it offers slightly less MPR compared to the UOB Visa Infinite, which requires an annual income of RM120,000, the Standard Chartered Journey has a lower income requirement of just RM90,000. The 0.5 MPR is particularly noteworthy, overshadowing other touted benefits such as unlimited KLIA lounge access, which may not hold as much value for some cardholders.
Alliance Bank Visa Infinite
As a unique addition to this article, let’s discuss the Alliance Bank Visa Infinite in a slightly unconventional manner. Typically, this card earns you 0.33 Miles per Ringgit (MPR) on Dining when swiped directly at restaurants.
However, a clever workaround involves reloading your E-Wallets and using them to pay for your meals, which boosts your MPR to 0.53. As I’ve emphasized before, it’s advantageous to prioritize E-Wallet spending with your Alliance Bank Visa Infinite. Only after reaching the monthly cap of RM3,000 should you consider using your card directly at dining terminals.
Final Thoughts
So, there you have it. These handpicked credit cards serve as an extension of my Ultimate Category-Specific Guide, which provides a comprehensive list of the best credit cards for dining expenses in Malaysia.
I’ve focused this particular article on dining because many of the inquiries I receive are about local dining recommendations.
It’s important to remember that there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ credit card, especially when we delve into specific categories like Dining. With UOB and CIMB frequently topping the list, your choice might depend on whether your monthly dining expenses are around RM2,000 or as high as RM15,000—a figure that isn’t uncommon for business owners entertaining clients.
If your spending is closer to RM1,000, options like the CIMB cards or the Alliance Bank Visa Infinite might be more suitable. On the other hand, if your expenditure ranges from RM8,000 to RM10,000 or more, the CIMB Preferred Visa Infinite could be ideal, provided you meet the AUM requirements.
For those whose spending falls in between, the UOB Visa Infinite or the Standard Chartered Journey Mastercard could be perfect fits.
As always, feel free to reach out via email at kingsley@refinedpoints.com with any specific scenarios for which you need advice. Stay tuned for more insightful articles!
