Mother’s Day usually means brunch, with mimosas, eggs benedict, or waffles in a nice dining room, packed with diners. For me, a good Mother’s Day means fried chicken and beer, and thanks to Plan Check, my dreams came true.

Unlike other mothers, my favorite things to eat are fried chicken, pastrami and pork (not necessarily in that order). Mother’s Day brunch is typically a nightmare with packed dining rooms and throngs of families waiting for a table. Using the assumption that most mothers wouldn’t want fried chicken and beer, I figured that Plan Check would make the perfect Mother’s Day brunch.

I wasn’t wrong either. There were plenty of empty tables. A bottomless Bloody Mary (as well as Mimosas and Brass Monkeys) were also on the brunch menu. Hubby opted for a single Bloody Mary as he was driving, while I got a Modern Times IPA.

Plan Check’s Veggie Burger, which, as far as I know, is always a special, and is pretty fantastic, oozing with cheesy goodness. Their housemade patties are made of  kale, mushrooms, yucca, cashews and watercress, topped with fried onion strings, two kinds of cheese and butter lettuce.  It doesn’t taste healthy in any way, shape or form, which explains why it’s so amazing.

Plan Check also offers a kid’s menu with things like a Smokey Fried Chicken, a smaller version of the Plan Check burger and a Grilled Cheese, which is what my boring daughter ordered. The outside of the bread tasted just like the toast that Sizzler serves (which isn’t a bad thing).

It also comes with fries, which I’ve never had before because they are fried in beef tallow (which is a no-no for my pesco-vegetarian husband). Served with homemade ketchup, they were pretty good.

Nothing, and I mean nothing, can hold a candle to the Southern Fry. Not even the Pastrami Nosh, which comes with a fried egg. Composed of fried chicken, duck ham, pimento cheese and pickles, the Southern Fry is one of the best things I’ve ever tasted. To order anything else here is foolish (unless you’re a vegetarian). Every time I eat it, it hasn’t disappointed me, with the moist fried chicken contrasting with the saltiness of the duck ham and heat of the pimento cheese. The Southern Fry makes me to swoon with delight.

The Southern Fry is my favorite sandwich in LA (the pastrami at Langer’s runs a close second). Even my picky daughter was won over by the fried chicken. I think she regretted choosing the grilled cheese. Me, I had no regrets. Happy Mother’s Day!

Location: 1800 Sawtelle Blvd., Los Angeles 90025. Additional locations in Fairfax, Downtown and a Santa Monica location coming soon.
Website – http://www.plancheck.com/index.html
Kid-Friendly – Yes
Kid’s Menu – Yes
Pesco-Vegetarian Friendly – Yes
Vegetarian – Yes
Vegan Friendly – Other than beer nuts, pickles, veggie chips, vegans would need to withhold cheese from the salads.
Gluten-Free Options – Yes