Local focus
After Heller found a restaurant space in L.A.’s Little Osaka neighborhood, he developed Plan Check to offer something that was different from the numerous Japanese restaurants in the area but still paid homage to its roots. Plan Check was one of the first concepts in the neighborhood to specialize in American fare and was also one of the first to offer full bar service instead of just beer, wine and sake. The area’s Asian influences are obvious in the menu though, which lists items such as wasabi-flavored beer nuts and a pastrami sandwich topped with kimchi mustard, along with a selection of Japanese whiskies. The brand has continued that local focus with its subsequent sites, with each offering daily specials along with a few items exclusive to that unit. For example, the Downtown location near Koreatown offers a Korean barbecue burger, and the brand’s upcoming Santa Monica restaurant will feature a few seafood dishes.