To the uninitiated, the term sounds like a bizarre Mad Libs combination. Is it a band? A specific dish? A mistake? In reality, "Asian Street Meat Sharon" refers to one of the most beloved, controversial, and fiercely defended food carts in the Greater Sharon, Pennsylvania, area (including Hermitage and Mercer County).
If you find yourself in Western Pennsylvania and you see a blue tarp glowing against the dark street, stop. Wait in line. Do not argue about the name. Just hand Sharon your $9, take the steaming clamshell, and experience the chaos. asian street meat sharon
This article dives deep into the origin, the menu, the controversy, and the cult-like following behind the elusive vendor known simply as "Sharon." Sharon, PA, is a small city near the Ohio border, known for its industrial history and the annual West Hill Cruise Night. It is not typically known as a hotbed of international cuisine. That changed roughly eight years ago when a food cart—technically a modified pop-up camper—appeared outside a hardware store on East State Street. To the uninitiated, the term sounds like a
Her fans appreciate the transparency. In an era of $28 "artisanal" bao buns, Sharon sells her large meat mix for $9. "It doesn't pretend to be healthy," says local regular Mike D. "It's the stuff you eat when you leave the bar. You know exactly what you're getting: street meat." A mistake
A frosty mixture of Korean soju, yuja (citron tea), and Sprite. Customers over 21 can get a "Slushie Float" with a shot of soju dumped on top. Why "Asian Street Meat"? The Controversy The keyword "Asian Street Meat Sharon" does not trend for the food alone. It trends because of the name. For the past three years, local community boards and food critics have debated whether the name is problematic, offensive, or simply brilliant.