In the last decade, casinos have bet big on a new kind of clientele: the RV crowd. That’s why they’ve continued to pump money into their resorts, enticing RV travelers with enhanced amenities. Good timing, too. The popularity of RVs soared at the start of the pandemic as people — from retired boomers to adventure-seeking millennials to Gen-Z influencers — grew tired of staying home. RVs gave them a way to enjoy the outdoors.
Whether you call it camping or glamping, RVs are proving to still be quite popular despite the economic downturn.
“The RV industry shipped over 492,000 in 2022, the third-best year on record for RV shipments,” Craig A. Kirby, president and CEO of the RV Industry Association, wrote in the group’s 2022 annual report. “The continued pace of the RV industry has been remarkable, especially considering we’ve faced record-inflation, economic uncertainty, high interest rates, geopolitical unrest and ongoing supply chain issues.”
During a recent three-day holiday weekend, that popularity was on full display. My partner and I wanted to get away but didn’t want to venture out too far. So we loaded up the dogs into the RV and chose Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula as our destination — the RV resort, not the hotel.
An hour away from home, we found a home base for the weekend, and thanks to the restaurants at the casino itself, staying there made for a surefire way to guarantee as stress-free trip. We brought some food, but the plan was to eat at the restaurants on the property.
Whether you’re at the hotel or the RV resort, the casino’s restaurants are definitely a convenient perk. Here’s a peek at some of the casino’s restaurants. Hope you’re hungry.
Journey’s End
If you’re looking for a break from the bustle of the casino, try Journey’s End, located behind the hotel. It’s right on the golf course, so expect breathtaking views of the course and Temecula Valley. The vibe is fairly casual, with a majority of the clientele golfers getting ready to start their day or coming in after playing a round. Open from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m., it serves a variety of all-day breakfast items, including a choose-your-own-ingredient omelet ($17), Island Loco Moco ($18) and Crab Cake Benedict ($24). The menu also offers appetizers, salads, sandwiches and heavier entrees like bucatini pasta with shrimp ($26) and chile verde ($18). The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating, and after your meal, relax on resort-style chairs outside overlooking the course.
Bamboo
Can’t decide between pho or pancit? At this Pan-Asian restaurant just off the casino floor, you don’t have to choose — you can have both. Open for lunch and dinner, the menu here has something for anyone craving Asian food, from Korean and Chinese to Vietnamese, Filipino and Thai. If you’re in the mood for something warm and hearty, there’s oxtail pho ($28), seafood clay pot ($34) or roast duck with noodles ($19). Maine lobster is on the menu (market price) and can be prepared a variety of ways, including stir-fried with ginger scallion sauce or fried and seasoned with salt and pepper. A personal favorite is the chicken breast and asparagus, stir-fried with XO sauce ($26).
Pechanga Café
If you’re looking for a no-frills meal that’s filling, double down on this 24-hour café. The menu has something for everyone — from a steak-and-egg breakfast ($22) to a chicken-and-waffles entree with sweet chili maple syrup ($28). For seafood lovers, there’s a lobster omelet ($22), albacore tuna sandwich ($15) salmon with cannelini bean salad and kale ($30). And meat lovers, rejoice: The menu also has filet mignon ($40) and rib eye ($36).
Blazing Noodles
There’s a little bit of everything at this Asian casual sit-down restaurant located just off the hotel lobby. Actually, let me rephrase that: There’s a lot of everything here — from house-style kimchi ($8) and crispy pork belly ($24) in the appetizer category to bok choy (stir-fried or steamed; $16) and Sichuan string beans ($15) in the vegetable section. The menu is quite expansive — reflecting dishes from Thailand, China, Korea and Vietnam, among others — and in a couple of instances, expensive. Exhibit A: There’s a Cantonese roasted duck, billed as “crispy soy-marinated duck with Chinese seasoning ($30 for half, $60 for whole), and a whole striped sea bass (fried or steamed; $72). A must-have for me, though, is the salt-and-pepper pork chop dish — fried pork chops tossed in garlic, chili peppers, green onions, and salt and pepper ($22). The plate came with a heaping pile of chops that I had enough to take home for another meal.
Blends
If all you want is a cup of coffee or a snack, Blends is probably just what you’re looking for. Located off the hotel lobby, Blends is a casual place that’s open 24 hours. It has a ton of coffee and tea choices, grab-and-go snacks like potato chips and candy as well ready-made sandwiches, salads and desserts. It’s the perfect place to rest your feet with a latte or wine — it’s actually called Blends Coffee and Wine Bar, so take a pick: Chai tea, Americano coffee or Chardonnay.
Umi Sushi & Oyster
Across from Blends is Umi Sushi & Oyster, which has been a popular dining spot since ing Pechanga’s dining roster in 2015. That popularity is what led the casino to expand the restaurant’s footprint last year. Located just off the entrance to the casino floor, it’s the destination of choice for many casino-goers at night (it has that chic, clubby vibe). During our recent stay, I tried to get a seat twice but failed. It was that busy. Open starting at 5 p.m., Umi — which means “sea” in Japanese — is a seafood lover’s dream. Under small plates, there are oyster shooters ($16), pan-seared scallops ($22) and salmon carpaccio ($17). There’s sushi, too, including locally themed rolls like the gluten-free Pechanga (yellowtail, jalapeño, avocado, red onions, tuna, spicy aioli, cilantro; $20) and the Temecula Fire (avocado, crab, cucumber, spicy tuna, eel sauce, spicy aioli; $18). Über seafood lovers can indulge in the Chilled Seafood Platter for Two (jumbo shrimp, oysters, spicy scallops, spicy tuna poke, king crab leg; market price).
Temptations Food Walk
If you’re hungry for more than a snack but don’t want a full-service menu, the food court has enough selections to satisfy every palate. Located off the casino floor, Temptations Food Walk offers a mix of fast-food choices, everything from Agave Mexican Delights and Pechanga Fried Chicken to Little Wok and American Classics, which is open 24 hours.
Other dining options
Besides the aforementioned dining spots, here are other places where you can feed your hunger or quench your thirst at Pechanga:
- 1882 Cantina
- The Great Oak Steakhouse (set to reopen this summer after a major renovation)
- Paisano’s
- Kelsey’s
- Round Bar
- Corner Bar
- Coveside Grill at The Cove pool complex
Pechanga Resort Casino
Where: 45000 Pechanga Parkway, Temecula
Phone: (877) 711-2946
Online: pechanga.com/eat