An American mom living in Norway explains the country's obsession with tacos — which she said first felt like an 'abomination' but she now enjoys

Geoff Weiss
Updated ·3 min read
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  • Krysta Alexa, a DC native based in Bergen, Norway, said tacos were Norway's "unofficial dish."

  • Norwegians typically consume them on "tacofredag," or "taco Fridays," she said in a viral TikTok.

  • Viewers felt Norwegian tacos were similar to other inauthentic, international versions of the dish.

An American mom who's been living in Norway since 2014 went viral discussing the country's love of tacos, including its "tacofredag," or "taco Friday," ritual (which happens to fall on Tuesdays in the US), which she said had made it the nation's "unofficial dish."

Krysta Alexa, 31, who wished to be identified by her online moniker, also sparked a discussion about different taco preparations around the world, saying Norwegian tacos were drastically different from the authentic Mexican tacos she grew up eating.

"At first, I thought it was an abomination," she said in a clip last week with 1.5 million views. "But now when my Viking asks me what I want for dinner, I occasionally respond 'tacos.'"

In her video, Alexa and her Norwegian husband — who are based in Bergen, Norway's second-largest city — seasoned ground beef with Old El Paso mix and assembled their toppings: canned corn, sour cream, Norvegia cheese, homemade salsa, guacamole, and cucumbers. She then wrapped everything in a giant burrito.

Alexa told Insider that beans weren't typically on the menu in Norway, but she'd seen some Norwegians incorporate pineapples and ketchup (which she's not a fan of).

She said tacos were her two-year-old son's favorite food. "The fact that he likes jalapenos and stuff is ridiculous," she said.

Commenters largely felt Alexa's preparation was similar to an American taco, with some likening her spread to the "white people taco night" TikTok trend that sees a more white-washed and watered-down interpretation of Mexican tacos.

"That's a Midwest taco," the top commenter on her video wrote. "That's 100% a texmex taco," another top commenter added. Other viewers said they prepared their tacos similarly in Finland and Australia.

But some commenters who identified themselves as Mexican or Mexican-American said the Norwegian taco looked decently appetizing. "Not the worst I've seen. As a Mexican American living in the Midwest," one person wrote.

"As a Mexican, just enjoy and Cheers up," another added.

Alexa, who hails from outside Washington, DC, said she remembered eating more authentic tacos at Mexican restaurants growing up but conceded that her family didn't often cook them at home.

The TikToker has gone viral several times, recapping various cultural differences as an American living abroad. She's vlogged about Norway's exceedingly generous maternity leave policies as well as the country's affordable childcare services.

Next up, she's been requested to make a video about Norway's love of frozen pizza. Taco-flavored pizzas are a thing, she said, though the nation's most popular brand, Grandiosa, is best known for a signature version comprising chopped bell peppers and strips of beef.

Read the original article on Insider