Known to vacationers statewide, Pechanga Resort & Casino recently completed a nearly three-year, $285 million project in March. The expansion centered on amenities, including 568 more rooms, a new two-story luxury spa, a resort-style pool complex and two new restaurants. According to Gina Hwang, executive host at Pechanga, these additions accommodate Pechanga’s increasingly Asian clientele.
Hwang said Bamboo, a pan-Asian fusion restaurant catering to the influx of the resort’s Asian customers, just expanded its menu to add Korean and Filipino dishes to its already-existing lineup of Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine. In addition, Umi Sushi & Oyster Bar — voted by USA Today’s 10Best.com as No. 2 Best Casino Restaurant, the only restaurant nominated on the West Coast — received a nod as a “Critic’s Choice” selection for best sushi restaurant by the Press-Enterprise.
The Summit, a new 68,000-square-foot event space, is already scheduled to host a number of Asian acts. South Korean ballad singer Lee Sunhee was the star of Pechanga’s first Korean show at The Summit in August. There are already nine Korean concerts scheduled until the end of next year; Jung Dongha and Ben will perform in November and Hong Jinyoung is slated for a January concert.
Filipino singers Ice Seguerra, Morissette Amon and Joey G, and Taiwanese singer Jam Ching-Tung Hsiao are also performing at Pechanga this year.
Hwang said Pechanga’s in-language Asian host team aims to make resort-goers more comfortable. “We can help you with essentially every part of your trip: book your reservation, your spa trip, your golf excursion, get your show tickets — just make it easier for you to enjoy your stay,” Hwang said.
Pechanga was a top pick across the board in several major readers’ polls. It was voted Best Southern California Casino by Orange County Register readers, and ranked No. 4 in the Best Casino Outside Las Vegas poll and No. 3 for Best Hotel Casino on 10Best.com.
