Best Credit Card for Carl's Jr. in 2026
Carl's Jr. is classified under MCC 5814 (Fast Food Restaurants). The best card for Carl's Jr. purchases is the Ink Business Cash (no annual fee), earning 5x on fast food restaurants — an effective return of 10.25%.
Does Carl's Jr. accept Mastercard? Yes — Carl's Jr. accepts Mastercard, Visa, American Express, and Discover at all locations, including in-store and mobile app payments.
Carl's Jr., a fast food restaurant, falls under the MCC 5814 category which is covered by credit cards that offer bonus points or cashback for dining out.
To maximize rewards, consider timing your visits for times when the restaurant offers bonus discounts or promotions.
Spending Math
If you spend $200 monthly at Carl's Jr., the Hilton Honors Aspire card gives you $168 annually in rewards (7x) compared to just $24 with a basic 1% card.
Carl's Jr. purchases are classified under MCC 5814 (Fast Food Restaurants).
MCC Details for Carl's Jr.
Best Credit Cards for Carl's Jr. (2026)
How Carl's Jr. Codes on Your Statement
When you pay at Carl's Jr. at their locations, your card issuer sees MCC 5814 in the transaction data. This code tells your bank that the purchase was made at a fast food restaurants merchant. Bonus reward rates on your card apply based on this MCC — not the merchant name itself.
If your card earns bonus points on "fast food restaurants" purchases, Carl's Jr. transactions will qualify — even if your card terms only mention a category name and not Carl's Jr. specifically. The key is that the MCC matches your card's bonus category definition.
You can verify the MCC on any Carl's Jr. transaction by checking your card's mobile app or statement. Some issuers display the merchant category alongside the transaction details. For the most accurate information, contact your card issuer's customer service and ask whether MCC 5814 qualifies for bonus rewards.
Bonus Category Match — Carl's Jr.
About MCC 5814: Fast Food Restaurants
Merchant Category Code 5814 is assigned by card networks (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover) to classify businesses in the Fast Food Restaurants industry. Issuers use MCCs to determine which transactions qualify for bonus reward rates. When a merchant is assigned MCC 5814, all qualifying card programs that include fast food restaurants as a bonus category will apply the elevated earn rate.
The Dining industry group encompasses several related MCCs. Not all merchants in a similar business will share the same MCC — for example, a grocery store inside a warehouse club may code as wholesale ({"5300"}) rather than grocery ({"5411"}). Always verify with your issuer if you're unsure whether a specific merchant qualifies for bonus rewards on your card.
Other Fast Food Restaurants merchants: Arby's, Arby's - Albuquerque, Arby's - Anaheim.
What You Could Earn at Carl's Jr.
Spending $200/month at Carl's Jr. with the Ink Business Cash (5x on fast food restaurants) earns approximately $120/year in rewards. A basic 1% card earns $24 on the same spending. That is $96 more per year with no annual fee.
Prefer no annual fee? The Custom Cash earns 5x at Carl's Jr. merchants, earning $120/year with no annual fee.