Swedish concept Bastard Burgers plots United States expansion

Swedish fast-casual chain Bastard Burgers, which opened its first United States restaurant in New York City in February, has plans to expand throughout the city and then elsewhere in the country.Founded in Luleå, Sweden, in 2016, the concept offers smash burgers — pressed flat and cooked crispy on a griddle — packaged in a New York-inspired street art/hip hop aesthetic. It has grown quickly and now has 67 units in Sweden, two in Norway and now one in the U.S. It plans to enter Finland this fall.The first U.S. unit is co-located with a new outpost of The Bronx Brewery, in Manhattan’s East Village, and chef Anthony DiCocco runs the kitchen of the dual concept.“To open up a Bastard Burgers restaurant in New York City, burger Mecca, it's a dream come true for them,” DiCocco said. “Their partnership with The Bronx Brewery fits perfectly. … They get to test the waters and get to know the scene.”He added that Bastard Burgers has developed a cult following.“It's a big, big fan base,” DiCocco s...