On the corner of Wilshire and Bixel sits the newly-opened Plan Check Kitchen + Bar, a restaurant offering updated versions of classic American comfort food. While the streets are typically empty and quiet in this residential area of Downtown Los Angeles, the opening of the third Plan Check at the bottom of 1111 Wilshire Apartments has attracted more visitors to the neighborhood. 

“I think there was a need for a restaurant in this area,” Plan Check's owner Terry Heller said. “We went a little bit west of the I-10 and found a location that was great.” Heller also said Downtown LA was strategically a good place for him to open a third restaurant because of its relationship to the other two Plan Checks, which are in Westside and Mid City. 

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Following the same concept and menu as the first two restaurants in Fairfax and Sawtelle, the Downtown LA Plan Check offers its customers a small handful of varied burger options — from the Bleuprint Burger ($13) to the Southern Fry Burger ($12), even picky diners will be able to find something that matches their cravings.

Plan Check's bustling indoor seating area and industrial decor. (Uracha Chaiyapinunt/Neon Tommy)

The restaurant is open-aired and windowless, allowing passersby to catch a glimpse of the fun inside. Decorated with wooden and metal industrial decor, Plan Check gives off a homey vibe that makes customers feel at ease: the servers and hostesses are helpful and friendly, pointing out their favorite dishes from the menu and urging diners to try new options. Though rustic and comfortable, the place is far from romantic. Loud conversations at the booths and the television above the bar make Plan Check an excellent choice for group dinners, but perhaps not the best for a first date.

Begin the meal with the stuffed mushroom appetizer ($9). The roasted portobello mushroom oozes with swiss cheese fondue with every bite, while the kale topping adds a crisp texture to the melted cheese. This dish hints to diners what they can expect from Plan Check, as well as what the restaurant is best at: turning the most simple ingredients into mouth-watering concoctions and giving new meaning to comfort food. 

One of the Downtown LA specials, the K-BBQ Burger ($14) happens to be a customer favorite. Made of grilled pork belly, "kimcheese", sprouting onion, gochujang BBQ sauce, sesame salt and fried onions, the dish balances sweet and salty flavors perfectly. The kimcheese, Gruyere cheese processed with wine and dried kimchi, is an interesting mix that adds a unique flavor to the dish. 

“I would say about 85% of the menu is the same," Heller explained. "But we definitely wanted to do something that’s inpspired by the location of the restaurant. We’re adjacent to Koreatown, so we came up with the K-BBQ Burger.” 

The Chef’s Favorite ($14) — described in the menu as “cheese two ways, bacon two ways, ketchup leather, sunny fried egg, hot sauce” — is a safe option for those looking for something more familiar. The egg is cooked just right: crispy on the edges, but runny in the middle so that the yolk trickles down the tower of ingredients. The hot sauce on the egg adds a delightful kick to an otherwise typical burger option. Trade the regular buns for the lettuce wrap instead. Not only is it lighter, but the lettuce does not compete with the rich flavors of the cheese and sauces the way the buns do. 

The Chef's Favorite served on a lettuce wrap instead of a bun. (Uracha Chaiyapinunt/Neon Tommy)

Though the menu tends to stay on the safe side of the spectrum, there are a few creative dishes like the K-BBQ Burger. What’s evident though is that Plan Check’s primary goal isn’t to invent new dishes, but instead, make some of its customer’s all-time favorites even more memorable; for instance, the meat and potatoes plate ($17), which features tender beef short ribs, cheesy tater tots and caramelized tomato finished with cauliflower puree and wasabi flakes.

“I think [Executive Chef Ernesto Uchimura] and I definitely make food the way we like it,” Heller said. “And I think what we do definitely casts a wide net. We did a lot of tastings. It took us four months to develop what we wanted.”

With the third restaurant, Heller really believes he and Uchimura have served every demographic.

“Fairfax has a very young demographic because the neighborhoods are filled with all these duplexes, it’s strategically located and somewhat affordable,” Heller said. “On the other hand, Downtown is a more professional crowd. That doesn’t mean to say we don’t get a lot of student customers.”

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It’s clear Plan Check has the potential to quickly become one of USC’s favorite burger spots. Close proximity to campus? Check. Homey ambiance for group outings? Check. Delicious food? Check, check, check. 

Plan Check is open Sunday-Thursday from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. and Friday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Happy hour is Monday-Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

1111 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, (213) 403-1616

Contact Staff Reporter Uracha Chaiyapinunt here.