I just got back from dinner and earned 20% cash back on my entire bill. Not 3-4% like a good dining credit card. 20%. Here is how, and whether it is actually worth using.
This is not sponsored. I genuinely use this app to fund my food adventures.
I wanted to test the "friction factor": is it awkward to use? Do servers know how to handle it? Does it feel like handing over a Groupon? I took it to three spots around Phoenix to find out.
We eat out a lot. Between restaurant reviews, food content, and just our general lifestyle, dining out is a regular part of our week. That adds up quickly, and finding a way to claw back some of that spending without giving up the experience is something I have been actively researching. I have tried various dining rewards credit cards, loyalty programs, and savings apps. InKind is the one that actually moved the needle in a meaningful way, and I want to break down exactly how it works and what to expect before you try it.
What Is InKind and How Does It Work?
InKind is a restaurant payment app that offers cash back when you pay through it at participating restaurants. Instead of paying with your regular credit or debit card, you open the app, enter your check number when the server brings the bill, and the app handles the payment. Your cash back posts automatically.
The experience is designed to feel as close to normal payment as possible. No codes to enter, no coupons to print, no awkward explanation to a confused server. You are essentially paying through an app that happens to give you back a percentage of what you spent.
The cash back percentage varies by restaurant. At some spots, especially for first-time visits, you can earn 20%. For regular visits at restaurants where you have used InKind before, the rate may drop unless you have the InKind Pass subscription, which I will explain later.
Test 1: Takeout at Thai Chili 2 Go
After a long day, I placed a pickup order for Massaman Curry. When I arrived, I asked for the check number. The cashier handed me a slip: "Check 26." I typed it into the InKind app, paid on my phone, and walked out. Completely seamless. Zero awkwardness.
This was my low-stakes test. Takeout is the safest way to first try InKind because the interaction is brief and there is no server relationship to navigate. The cashier barely reacted; she just confirmed it went through and handed over my order. If you are hesitant about trying InKind for the first time, start with a takeout order to get comfortable with the flow.
The Massaman Curry, for the record, was excellent. But the real win was realizing that the payment process was genuinely as smooth as using any other app. No friction, no confusion, no delay.
Test 2: Date Night at The Filthy Animal
Takeout is one thing, but what about a proper sit-down dinner? I used the map and filter inside the app to find something highly rated and landed on The Filthy Animal. We ordered appetizers and entrees. Total came to $145. At the end, I asked our server for the check number, entered it into the app, and paid. She confirmed it went through instantly. No confusion, no weird looks.
This is the test that mattered most to me. Sit-down restaurant dining has a social and interpersonal dimension that takeout does not. You have a server who has invested time in your table, and the payment moment is where that dynamic either continues smoothly or gets weird. At The Filthy Animal, it was completely smooth.
When I asked for the check number, our server immediately knew what I was doing and smiled. She gave me the number without any explanation needed. That told me a lot: InKind is integrated well enough at participating restaurants that the staff are familiar with it. No awkward pause, no confused look, no need to explain the app. Just "Check 17" and I was done.
The Filthy Animal itself is excellent, by the way. Solid craft cocktails, well-executed food, and a vibe that sits comfortably between casual and upscale. Worth visiting regardless of what app you use to pay.
Test 3: Drop Dead Gorgeous (Speakeasy)
I found out through the app that The Filthy Animal has a hidden speakeasy inside called Drop Dead Gorgeous. We went in, had some good craft drinks, and closed out the tab through InKind the same way. Smooth every time.
Drop Dead Gorgeous is a genuinely fun experience. The entrance is not immediately obvious, which is kind of the whole point of a speakeasy concept. The cocktail program is creative and the atmosphere is completely different from the main dining room above: darker, more intimate, with a vintage aesthetic that suits the concept. Discovering it through the InKind app was a side benefit I did not expect. The app's venue listings sometimes surface spots or details about restaurants that you would not find through a standard Google search.
The payment process here was identical to The Filthy Animal: ask for the check number, enter it in the app, done. No additional steps needed for the different venue within the same property.
The Math
Total spend across all three stops: $211 (excluding tips).
| Method | Cash back |
|---|---|
| Best dining credit card (4%) | ~$8 |
| InKind app (20%) | $42 |
Turning $8 into $42 just by using a different app on your phone is a meaningful difference.
Let me put that in perspective. Over the course of a year, if you dine out even modestly, the gap between 4% and 20% cash back compounds significantly. On $3,000 of annual restaurant spending, a 4% card returns $120. InKind at 20% returns $600. That is the difference between a grocery run and a weekend trip. For us, with our level of dining out, this is not a trivial number.
One caveat: InKind does not always offer 20% at every restaurant. Sometimes it is only for your first visit to a new spot. If you dine out frequently, the InKind Pass ($10/month or $100/year) locks in 20% cash back every time.
The InKind Pass is the upgrade that makes InKind a long-term savings tool rather than a one-time novelty. Without it, first-visit rates are excellent but repeat visits may drop to a lower percentage. With the Pass, you are locked in at 20% every single time at every participating restaurant. At $100 per year, it pays for itself within one or two moderate-sized dinners, assuming you are using it at the 20% rate. For anyone who dines out regularly and consistently, the math on the Pass is clear.
Two Pro-Tips for Stacking Your Savings
1. The Costco gift card hack: Costco regularly sells $100 InKind gift cards for $74.99, which is a 25% discount before you even open the app. Occasionally it drops to $64.99. Load the discounted gift card into the app and still earn your cash back on top. It compounds.
This is genuinely one of the best restaurant savings stacks available. You are essentially pre-purchasing your dining budget at a discount and then earning cash back on top of the discounted amount. The effective savings rate when you combine a $74.99 Costco card with 20% InKind cash back on a $100 restaurant bill is substantial. If Costco membership is something you already have, this is an obvious move.
2. Referral link: Sign up with my link and get $25 in dining credit instantly. Scan the QR code or tap the link below:
π Claim $25 Off Your Next $50+ Meal
Who Is InKind Good For?
InKind is an excellent tool for anyone who dines out at least a few times per month in a city with a good selection of participating restaurants. Phoenix and Scottsdale have a solid InKind network, which is what made this testing process easy and effective.
If you are a casual once-a-month diner, InKind still makes sense for those visits, especially on first-time restaurant experiences where the 20% rate is most commonly available. The free version of the app costs you nothing and still delivers meaningful cash back.
If you dine out regularly, travel frequently, or simply want to maximize every dollar spent on food, the InKind Pass pays for itself quickly. For us, it has become a standard part of how we pay at restaurants in the same way that using a travel card at hotels is just automatic.
The one limitation worth noting is the participating restaurant network. InKind is strongest in larger metropolitan areas. If you live in a smaller market or frequently eat at smaller, independent restaurants that have not signed on yet, the utility is more limited. But in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and the surrounding East Valley, the selection is strong enough to use it consistently.
