As of August 2026, there are 13 restaurants in San Diego County where you can use your Chase Sapphire Reserve dining credit, including 9 within the city of San Diego. San Diego’s current total reflects a program update that removed around eight restaurants from the city. Unfortunately, OpenTable's interface doesn't make it easy to browse those restaurants. You can’t view pricing, access a map, or search for removed restaurants without opening each listing individually.

nextcard built a tool called the MealMaxxer, that displays all 13 restaurants on an interactive map with price estimates and gift card availability so you can stop clicking around and actually pick a spot. You can even use MealMaxxer to find restaurants that are a part of multiple dining rewards programs like Seated, inKind or Bilt Neighborhood.

TL;DR

• San Diego County has 13 restaurants (as of August 2026) where your dining credit applies, with most spots in La Jolla and Downtown San Diego

• Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders can get up to $150 in dining credits every 6 months, with no rollover; credits typically post within a few days when you pay directly at an eligible restaurant

• nextcard's MealMaxxer tool shows all 13 locations on one map with pricing and gift card availability instead of clicking through OpenTable's grid

• nextcard also offers a free tool to track credit card benefits and find cards that match your spending habits

Understanding the Chase Sapphire Reserve Dining Credit

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® provides up to $300 annually in statement credits at participating Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables restaurants. You get up to $150 from January through June and another up to $150 from July through December, with no rollover between periods.

Credits typically post within 3 business days, though Chase allows up to 4 weeks. Your purchase must come directly from the restaurant, so paying the bill at your table works but third-party delivery apps typically won't qualify.

Around July 7, 2026, 91 restaurants were added to the Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables program, and 64 restaurants were removed overall. San Diego was hit pretty hard and unfortunately now only has 13 participating locations. The dining options you see here reflect the current state of the program in 2026.

Eligible San Diego Restaurants for the Dining Credit

San Diego has 13 restaurants participating in the Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables program. They range from Little Italy hotspots to La Jolla Shores oceanfront dining, covering everything from wood-fired Mediterranean to contemporary seafood:

• Juniper & Ivy

• Marisi

• animae

• Herb & Wood

• Callie Restaurant

• The Marine Room

• Island Prime

• MOTHERSHIP

• Paradisaea

• Herb & Sea

• Lilo

• Vintana Wine & Dine

• Jeune et Jolie

OpenTable displays the dining options in a multi-page grid with large photos and no filters, search bar, or map. You can't see pricing estimates or compare neighborhoods without opening each restaurant individually.

Use the MealMaxxer to avoid these issues!

Callie Restaurant

Callie Restaurant is a Mediterranean restaurant in the East Village led by chef-owner Travis Swikard. Its menu pairs the flavors of the Mediterranean with seasonal Southern California produce, seafood, and meat; it also remains listed in the Michelin Guide.

The menu is designed for sharing, with dips, vegetable dishes, pasta, and grilled land-and-sea plates. A five-course, family-style Mediterranean Feast is also available for the whole table.

MOTHERSHIP

MOTHERSHIP is an immersive, spaceship-themed cocktail bar and vegetarian restaurant in South Park. Its hidden, sci-fi interior sets the scene for tropical rum cocktails and playful meat-free dishes.

Cocktails are the main event, including the rum-, apricot-, and coconut-based Homing Beacon. Reservations are especially useful for a seated dinner experience

Juniper & Ivy

Juniper & Ivy previously earned Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition and remains listed in the Michelin Guide. It operates out of a converted 1920s warehouse in Little Italy. Chef-owner Michael Rosen runs an open kitchen that turns out rotating menus built around seasonal ingredients with Latin and Asian accents.

Main entrees like the Miso Black Cod or Linguine run about $40.

animae

animae is an Asian-inspired Wagyu steakhouse in downtown San Diego’s Pacific Gate tower. Executive chef Tara Monsod layers Filipino flavors and other Asian influences into a glamorous dinner menu.

Small plates range from about $10 to $30, while larger dishes such as chicken adobo and seared seabass run roughly $38–$40. Wagyu steaks are a splurge, starting at $68 for an American choice filet.

Many folks are glad this restaurant was not removed in the July 2026 changes.

How the Sapphire Reserve Dining Credit Works with Your Bill

The credit usually posts within 3 business days when you pay directly at an eligible restaurant with your card, though Chase allows up to 4 weeks. You don't need to make an OpenTable reservation to receive the dining credit.

If you're splitting the bill between multiple eligible cards, each cardholder should receive a credit up to their available balance if each charge is processed directly by the restaurant.

Cash or check payments don't qualify. The transaction needs to be processed directly through the eligible restaurant's payment system using your Sapphire Reserve. Statement credits post automatically without activation or enrollment and may take up to 4 weeks.

Comparing Dining Benefits Across Premium Cards

The Reserve's up to $300 annual credit splits into two $150 semiannual periods with no activation needed, while the American Express Platinum Card® offers up to $400 annually through up to $100 quarterly increments (enrollment required).

Chase limits you to restaurants in the Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables program, whereas Amex covers over 10,000 U.S. Resy partner restaurants (and soon, Tock restaurants). Amex credits can take up to 8 weeks to post.

How nextcard's MealMaxxer Simplifies Restaurant Discovery

OpenTable's grid layout requires clicking through multiple pages to see all 13 San Diego restaurants. You can't search, filter by city, or compare pricing without opening each listing individually.

Our MealMaxxer tool maps all eligible restaurants with average price per person shown for each location. Filter by neighborhood, search specific spots, and see which restaurants participate in other programs like inKind or Bilt Neighborhood Dining without leaving the map view.

Using the MealMaxxer, we can see that one restaurant qualifies for both Bilt Neighborhood Dining and the Sapphire Reserve dining credit. Several others, including The Marine Room and Paradisaea, qualify for both the Sapphire Reserve dining credit and Franki.

Final Thoughts on Making the Most of Your Dining Credit in San Diego

San Diego's 13 participating restaurants give you solid options across La Jolla, Downtown, Little Italy, and Carlsbad. Whether you're after a themed dinner at MOTHERSHIP, coastal seafood at The Marine Room, or Asian-inspired steak in Downtown San Diego, the range covers most preferences with typical spending between $40 and $100 per person.

That pricing structure means you'll hit the $150 semiannual threshold in roughly two to five visits depending on where you eat and whether you order drinks. MealMaxxer maps all your options with neighborhoods and average prices shown upfront so you're not stuck clicking through OpenTable's clunky interface.

FAQ

How do I know if my restaurant charge will trigger the Chase Sapphire Reserve dining credit?

Credits post automatically when you pay directly at an eligible Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables restaurant, usually within 3 business days but sometimes up to 4 weeks. Purchases made through third-party payment processors or delivery platforms may not qualify. Gift cards and merchandise don't qualify either.

Do I need to book a reservation for the credit to work?

No, you do not.

Chase's current terms don't require an OpenTable reservation. You only need to use your eligible card for a qualifying purchase made directly with a participating restaurant.

What happens if I don't use my full $150 dining credit by June 30?

You lose it. Credits expire June 30 and December 31 with no rollover. A fresh $150 becomes available July 1 and January 1, but anything left from the previous period disappears.

Does the dining credit work for takeout orders from eligible San Diego restaurants?

Takeout may qualify if the charge is processed directly by an eligible restaurant and Chase can identify it as such. Orders placed through third-party services such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Grubhub may not qualify.

Which San Diego neighborhoods have the most restaurants that accept the dining credit?

Downtown San Diego and La Jolla each have three eligible restaurants. Downtown has animae, Callie, and Island Prime; La Jolla has The Marine Room, Marisi, and Paradisaea.