With the cost of living spiralling upward, it pays to save where you can. Sure, we can (and probably should) somewhat reduce how often we eat out… but where’s the fun in that? Another angle to explore is dining discounts, particularly through app and gift card offers.
I’m a bit of a bargain hunter, and I love dining out, so I could tell you all about EatClub, First Table, and other similar programs. My partner and I were big fans of Dimmi (later, TheFork), where we would enjoy £50 off dining in London from restaurant visits in Australia. But, I digress.
One of the easiest ways to save now is to wait for discount offers on Restaurant Choice gift cards in Australia. It’s a prepaid Visa gift card that works at practically all eateries around the country.
How do you buy a Restaurant Choice gift card?
The Restaurant Choice gift card is a prepaid Visa debit card that you can purchase from Woolworths, Big W, Coles, Kmart and Australia Post. It comes in $100 and variable load ($20-$500) denominations.
We strongly recommend waiting for a discount or bonus points offer with Everyday Rewards (Woolworths, Big W) or Flybuys (Coles, Kmart) before buying the card. For example, if there’s a 10% off deal, you’ll save $50 for every $500 purchased. There are also occasional 20x bonus points offers – that’s 10 Qantas or Velocity Points per dollar when converted.
Where does the Restaurant Choice gift card work?
What’s special about the Restaurant Choice gift card is that you can use it at a wide range of eateries. You don’t have to tell the venue you’re using a gift card (in fact, we recommend not mentioning it at all). As a prepaid Visa card, you can simply pay as ‘Credit’ through the terminal.
According to the FAQs, the Restaurant Choice card should work at any of the places that are registered under the following merchant classifications:
- Eating Places and Restaurants (5812)
- Hotels, Caterers (5811)
- Drinking Places, Bars, Taverns, Cocktail lounges, Nightclubs and Discotheques (5813)
- Fast Food Restaurants (5814)
- Motels & Resorts, Central Merchant (7011)
- Amusement Parks, Circuses, Carnivals, and Fortune Tellers (7996)
That comprehensive list should cover just about any eatery that accepts Visa cards. But beyond that, it could also work at many hotels, resorts and even entertainment centres. For small balances, these cards often work at bakeries. You might also be able to split a payment at the counter at stores such as McDonald’s or Hungry Jack’s to use up exact small balances.
How does the Restaurant Choice gift card work?
With a prepaid Visa card, you can simply present the card at the restaurant. Don’t tell the staff you’re paying with a gift card, as the transaction should go through the usual credit network. Simply swipe the card and enter the PIN (located on the back of the card).
We recommend adding the card to your digital wallet (Google Pay or Apple Pay) so you can easily use it on the go. But always keep the physical card handy, in case of disputes or refunds later on. Restaurant Choice gift cards have previously worked with apps such as Too Good to Go and EatClub, though that can change.
Restaurant Choice gift cards can also be used online, though some merchants will decline prepaid gift cards if they require a 3DS check (which these cards do not support).
Buy the Restaurant Choice with a points-earning card to double-dip on rewards!
Qantas American Express Ultimate
Offer ends: 28 Jul 2026
- Bonus points
- 50,000 bonus Qantas Points¹
- Annual fee
- $450 p.a.
- Earn
- 1.25 Qantas Points earned per $1 on eligible everyday purchases. 2.25 Qantas Points per $1 spent on selected Qantas products and services in Australia. 0.5 Qantas Point per $1 at government bodies in Australia. After a total of 100,000 Qantas Points is earned in a calendar year, the everyday earn rate will change from 1.25 to 1 Qantas Point per $1 spent.
Qantas American Express Ultimate
Offer ends: 28 Jul 2026
- Bonus Points
- 50,000 bonus Qantas Points¹
- Annual Fee
- $450 p.a.
- Earn
- 1.25 Qantas Points earned per $1 on eligible everyday purchases. 2.25 Qantas Points per $1 spent on selected Qantas products and services in Australia. 0.5 Qantas Point per $1 at government bodies in Australia. After a total of 100,000 Qantas Points is earned in a calendar year, the everyday earn rate will change from 1.25 to 1 Qantas Point per $1 spent.
Earn 50,000 bonus Qantas Points¹ with the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card when you apply online by 28 July 2026, are approved, and spend $5,000 in the first 3 months.
Summing up
With a 10% discount or a 20x bonus points offer, it’s a no-brainer to pick up some Restaurant Choice gift cards if you’re planning to go out soon.
Just be mindful to keep track of your balances, and try to use the cards sooner rather than later. Old balances may be forgotten. There have also been incidents of cards being compromised through brute-forcing, so keep an eye on balances periodically.
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