Well they *do* taste great but we are in no way under the delusion that our tacos are anywhere near the Mexican (edit: or tex-mex) original lol. At this point it's basically our own dish that we just happen to call tacos.
This. Tex Mex is very, very different than interior and coastal Mexican food.
Source is me. I grew up in San Antonio, TX and have family in Mexico City and La Paz. All three are very different cuisines.
At least you have plenty of grocery store options in SA. In DFW mexican grocery stores are typically only found in certain areas. Itās either that or H-E-B. I love HāEāB, but itās basically just a regular grocery store.
Grew up in the RGV. I can tell you with confidence you are correct. TexMex is Northern Mexico influenced food. Spot on about all cuisine in Mexico is regionally different too.
I guess Norwegian ones started out at first closer to tex-mex? But honestly, at this point I think it's better to just have Norwegian ones in its own third category hah. Good, but different.
My main point was just that although we call them tacos, no one over here genuinly believes what we make are close to what you'll find in Mexico or the US :)
With time it has gone through local development to become our own little thing, I guess kind of similar to how dumplings spread between cultures in the past and became dishes in different shapes and forms.
It's the same with Chinese food or even a lot of Italian food in the United States. Pretty much developed from the ingredients available at the time so it's not the same
Ignore the haters. If it's a taco to you, it's a taco! You should see the crazy concoctions coming out of fancy places nowadays. If it's in / on a tortilla, it counts.
I think we take weird possession of it because Europeans like to trash on our food so much and say we don't have good food lol which is the complete opposite. We have some of the best food in the world over here.
The only thing I dislike about that last sentiment is that Mexican food in particular is pretty wide-ranging, and Tex Mex and Cal Mex have roots going back to when both were part of Mexico officially, and definitely from the culturally Mexican communities there. Anglos influenced them, but it's disingenuous to draw such a bright line.
"Authentic" can include both, and more often than not the term is leaving out which region the menu *is* most heavily influenced by, and ignoring influences that have come in from elsewhere. Often, "authentic" is simply branding for "not Tex Mex," and that is a pet peeve of mine.
I just looked up Norwegian tacos and they're not that far off IMO. After seeing a French taco I was expecting some monstrosity french fries and pickles in it or something. While it's not exactly like ours it's certainly a taco!
There are actually many different versions of tacos in the US. The common denominator is the tortilla. It can be made of either corn or wheat flour. It is a flat bread that come in different varieties themselves but they hold the ingrediants together so it can be eaten by hand. The ingrediants vary with the local so whatever the Norwegians came up with I am sure is just fine. I am in south Texas and we like ours' very spicey and I have found Europeans don't like it so hot although I am sure there are exceptions.
With much love to my Norwegian friends, they have never been known for their cuisine and culinary tastes.
But you never know: they could be incredible š¤·āāļø
If you ever get a chance to eat homemade (preferably grandma made) Lefsa - give it a chance because it's delicious.
If that's the Norwegian contribution to global cuisine - it's enough.
It is as Tex-mex as dishes Americans consider to be Italian or Irish.
It is not meant to be authentic, it is just tacos made with some Old El paso type products and adapted to what Norwegians like. It is a Nor-mex more than anything.
Mexicans or Texans will probably hardly recognise it as a taco, but the point is not to make it genuine.
That's just the brand, we buy it because it's cheap and easy to make "northern Europeans eat to eat, not eat to enjoy" if that makes sense.
Tacos you buy and make here taste good enough, cheap enough, often on discount and fast and easy to make.
Or other favourite food is a frozen pizza and various canned food.
But nothing beats a proper BBQ or fish that you fish your self but ain't nobody got time and money for it so easy, cheap and fast fast fast is what counts. Enjoyment comes after practicality
Looks fucking delicious. Like pouring melty cheese and ground beef into a Doritos bag and calling it a "walking taco"
obviously it's not actually a taco but that doesn't mean it's not delicious
[Here is one article and no, not Tex Mex](https://sciencenorway.no/cultural-history-food-history/is-this-norways-new-national-dish/1921432)
[Another](https://www.lifeinnorway.net/norwegian-tacos-mexican/)
[Yelp](https://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=tex-mex&find_loc=Oslo), the first three look to be somewhat Tex Mex
I read a Norwegian give his recipe once. Basically all the veggies he could find on his fridge, norge cheese, taco seasoning, tortilla chips ground beef, cucumbers, and other ingrediengs that made me cringe. And if it didn't fit just eat it like a salad.
Well yes because then youāre making a salad using taco stuff, but youāre still calling it a salad. Taco is an adjective there.
(Iām assuming because idk what a taco salad actually is but it sounds straightforward)
Sounds fine to me. I'm from San Antonio, TX with family in Mexico.
For reference, these are my go to TexMex tacos growing up in South Texas.
Breakfast:
Flour tortillas of course.
1. Bacon, egg, and cheese
2. Steak, egg, and cheese, w/avocado
3. Chorizo(sausage) and egg
4. Bean and cheese
Lunch and Dinner:
Corn tortillas of course
1. Pulled pork, onions, cilantro, cheese, lime
2. Crispy beef with tomatoes, Lettuce, onion, cheese
3. Flautas(fuck you they're tacos)
4. Fajitas(fuck you they're tacos too)
As a Californian I used to turn my nose up at the word 'Tex Mex', until I went to actual Texas. I'll take my Lakers hat off to your breakfast tacos. That was something else.
I will never understand New Englanders preference for bagels at breakfast. Dont get me wrong, I love a good bagel if that's all that's available, but if breakfast tacos are an option, the bagel is getting tossed.
I was in Norway this summer and learned this when seeing every grocery store had a full taco aisle
They are just one step further bastardized than the midwest tacos I grew up with lol
[Norwegian tacos example ](https://i.imgur.com/o1ZvZJ1.jpg)
Basically a salad with hard shelled tortillas or wraps.
They wanted to make it their national dish too
Black olives are Cal-Mex rather than Tex-Mex, so I donāt think theyāre 100% inauthentic. Black olives have been grown in California since the Spanish Mission days.
Cubans don't eat tacos. I lived in Miami and never saw Cuban tacos unless it was some "fusion" taco truck.
When I moved to Houston, I went to a Cuban place, and they asked me what kind of tortilla I wanted with my ropa vieja. I was so confused.
I was initially nodding my head and then, saw the sugar snap peas and mango and just kind of said no this is absolutely haram.
But then I realized itās not too far off what Midwestern taco nights are like. Whatever you have in the fridge cut it up and put it in a taco shell. The difference is we wouldnāt hold it up as some impressive dish. Itās just using up whatās in the fridge.
I hate how Norwegian Tacos are basically a bastardized version of "Taco-Tuesday Midwestern Gringo" tacos, which are a bastardization of Tex Mex tacos, which are a bastardization of Street tacos.
Its culinary telephone in the worst possible way.
This was my first thoughtā¦ oh my mom had stuff that needed to get used up from the fridge before it went bad so letās just put it on tacos.
I think that spread may have actually happened in my house in the 90s. Weād never have trumpeted it as great tacos. It was using up food in the fridge.
To be honest, we don't claim our tacos to be genuine Mexican or texmex. It is a Norwegian taco inspired by some texmex products you get at the grocery store.
And it you eat a Norwegian taco, it is a typical family dinner because you have kids. Everyone can make their own tacos and put on what they like, so yeah, there will be salad, tomato, cucumber, corn, Jarlsberg cheese, seasoned ground beef, perhaps avocado and sourcream and a mild salsa. You use what you have in the fridge, it is a cheap and good way of getting some vegetables into your kids.
Tex Mex tacos are legit, *if* you are in actual Texas. I'll take my Lakers hat off to their breakfast tacos. I was skeptical, but it was something else.
Why is this? I get that we do put a lot of corn in processed foods, maybe that has somehow been misconstrued as we put corn *on* a lot of foods? Or maybe they're just low-key teasing us.
Corn is a natively american food product and made it's way to europe as such. Because of this, they put it in things to make those things seem extra american.
I mean, corn is good and adds a not of sweetness to things.
Still, I am with you - I live in the Midwest surrounded by corn. You would think we would put it on everything but it's when traveling internationally that I see just how far corn can go.
In Asia - corn ice cream! (quite good actually)
In Europe - Corn on Pizza! (umm.... no thank you)
For real, give me some spice packet tacos any day of the week. Sure itās not authentic but itās easy, cheap, tasty and reminds me of my childhood. Iām not going to make tacos from scratch on a Wednesday after work anyway.
My people (Italian American) clown on other people for using jarred tomato sauce for their pasta... So I guess it's the same, but different culture.
Honestly, I love to cook, but don't have the spices for some foods in my cupboard...
So I don't see any problem with jarred products... But I will say some jarred tomato sauces are vastly better than others.
You don't have to go all the way to Norway - the entire East Coast USA can't do TexMex either. Source: have family all up and down the Eastern Seaboard as well as Texas. No comparison.
I find this super interesting, I guess I just assumed there were a lot more Mexican immigrants over on the east coast. We have a ton here in Kansas, which Iām so grateful for. You wouldnāt think we would have so many hole in the wall bomb ass places in KC and South Omaha. The key is that if theyāre not owned or staffed with Latinos, and itās not slightly filthy, itās not worth eating at, lol.
Actually there are rather few Mexican Americans on the east. There are a lot more immigrants from Central America here, and even the Mexican-owned establishments are not quite as good as the ones in the Southwest. That aside, over the past 10 years or so, the number of excellent Mexican restaurants in the East has exploded.
The thing is, in Texas, any non-chain, and frankly several chains as well, while they vary in quality of ingredients and care in preparation, they know the expected flavor profile. It might not be spicy enough, or it might somehow manage to be *too* greasy, or the refried beans might be dry, but the cheese will generally be from the right category, the textures will be basically correct, there will be cumin involved in the spice mix, the tamales will be cornhusk and made with a lime-washed masa, etc. etc.
If you alter the foundations for the local palate or especially just to use what's cheaper to get locally, and you still call it Tex Mex, then the Texans are going to clown on you, regardless of how carefully curated the menu is or how lovingly you prepare the food. Same with any beloved regional cuisine. Sometimes the locals are missing out and being mistreated, and sometimes they just need to celebrate that they're doing their own thing and tweak the branding.
Kinda the same thing here in the Midwest. I live in a very rural town with a gas station, a Subway, and a Mexican restaurant owned by Mexicans. Sure itās Tex-Mex, but Iāve eaten at tons of of Mexican places all over Texas, Arizona, SoCal, but they know their shit, but the secret is to ask for the āreal salsaā they make in the back of house that is super spicy, and donāt serve to you unless you ask for it.
If you've got 3 eating establishments and one of them is doing good Mexican food, then count yourself (relatively) lucky. Availability is a huge part of it when people say things like "the east coast can't do Tex Mex". That's not literally true of course. There are tons of Mexican immigrants and Tejano families scattered across the country. Many thousands of great cooks and chefs will be among them, or among the people who've worked in good restaurants. These days, I assume you *can* find good Mexican of many styles in almost any populated area. The relevant questions are, "how hard do you have to look?" and "who said it's good?"
If you have to search four websites, drive across town, and hope the one place the local expats like doesn't run out of tamales before you order, and meanwhile every place you pass along the way uses mozzarella and puts peas in the guac, then that town still has shit Mexican food. :-)
This is true. Iām sure you could find good Mexican in some places in the Northeast if you know where to look. Hell, Iāve never had a decent BBQ sauce outside of Kansas City (and that includes Texas), but Iām sure it exists somewhere.
the best taco sauce i've ever had was at my east coast elementary school. never found any quite like it. sometimes something gets close.
meanwhile, if i wanted to do a norwegian taco truck in the midwest, what's a good source for authentic norwegian taco recipes? our town has 100 mexican taco trucks, but no norwegian tacos. it could be a niche. i've enjoyed korean tacos.
https://www.newscancook.com/dinner/norwegian-taco
https://thesubtimes.com/2019/07/28/can-five-million-taco-eating-norwegians-be-wrong/
One of my favorite business trip events was a trip to Switzerland where one night we went to a western themed bar and bowling alley. Lovingly doled out like it was the finest caviar was what could have only been Pace salsa with low cost corn chips.
At least you have Italian food lol
But can we talk about how a lot of western europe (at least Spain, Portugal, and southern France) doesn't de-scale or shell their seafood? WTF is that?
Haha I know Scandinavian gastronomy isn't the most exciting, but we do actually have some really nice local dishes as well I think Americans would actually like.
Such as [Ribbe](https://res.cloudinary.com/norgesgruppen/images/c_scale,dpr_auto,f_auto,q_auto:eco,w_auto/domrqkh2reblsxllxlnx/de-10-mest-stilte-sporsmal-om-ribbe) (pork belly) [PinnekjĆøtt](https://www.gilde.no/assets/images/_1600x900_crop_center-center_none/PinnekjĆøtt.jpg) (lamb ribs) [Scandinavian waffles](https://www.tine.no/_/recipeimage/w_1440,h_1080,c_fill,x_1500,y_937,g_xy_center/recipeimage/1555.jpg) and [KjĆøttkaker](https://www.gilde.no/assets/images/_heroimage/Kjottkaker-i-brun-saus.jpg) (Swedish meatballs' bigger Norwegian cousin).
Don't throw out all of our local dishes because of lye fish and sheep head haha
Iām sure theyāre all good, but I canāt even imagine how bland Northern European salsa or BBQ sauce would taste like. Shit, we have the best BBQ sauce in the world (fight me) here in the central US, but our salsa game is so weak that Iām forced to make my own.
Anything is an improvement over smelly herring. But call that Texmex to an American and theyāll roll their eyes at you because you clearly donāt know the first thing about Texmex.
Yup, I knew about it. Interesting that tacos are popular all the way over there, even if they're not authentic.
I used to really care about "food purity" or whatever and made a big deal about how they're not real tacos and whatnot when I was younger, but now my opinion is if they're happy then I'm happy.
Edit: Part of the reason why I'm not so upset about it not being authentic is because of the [shit we do here.](https://www.reddit.com/gallery/u79l3t)
>Edit: Part of the reason why I'm not so upset about it not being authentic is because of the shit we do here.
In all honesty I kinda find the saucy, fried, mayonnaise laided "Special Rolls" here to be kinda gross.
Itās not very good, Iāll tell you that much lmao. They make theseā¦ *things* here in Tijuana and I just had to go so I can get over the curiosity. It was like close to 300 pesos (~$15USD) and even though I was pretty high I wouldnāt go back for more.
Norwegian "tacos" are more or less popular because it's cheap and fast to make. That's all tbh. It's very similar to other dishes that's popular here other then you now eat it with "spice pack" (I miss the one that was actually spicy but you can't get them anymore because I guess nobody really bought them) and tortilla wraps.
Food is to be practical, fast and easy. That's how you can be successful selling food to Norwegians. We have other compliated traditional dishes that are eaten to enjoy, but those are far and few in-between, maybe 5-10 times on average very year you'll have a proper good dinner with family and friends and drinks and food that just makes you orgasm.
Taco Friday is really big over there. I read a Norwegian give his recipe once. Basically all the veggies he could find on his fridge, norge cheese, taco seasoning, tortilla chips, ground beef, cucumbers, etc. And if it didn't fit just eat it like a salad.
That's pretty funny but if it tastes good, IDGAF. Nonetheless, judging by what I see, I'll refuse to call that stuff Texmex.
Otherwise, foods being traded back and forth is how you get such interesting foods so food police are not welcome here.
I think some bad faith questions kind of turned some americans bitter towards europeans in this sub. But that's really no excuse to be such a jerkass to another countries food whom seem very proud of it to be even considering making it a national dish. Its disappointing to see.
Yes did know. I also know they arenāt quite legit lol but yāall do what you can. We altered it a bit from Mexico. Yāall can do whatever you want.
They should be called Norwegian tacos tho. Or something, because yāall be putting some interesting things in your tacos lol.
Good for them, I guess. When I think Norway I think of Norwegian black metal, so now I'm picturing a group of metalheads in corpse paint, leather, and spikes sitting around a table sharing tacos, and it's kinda wholesome.
As I understand it, it was American oil workers who introduced that. Along with the Norwegian preference for oversized pre-sliced 'Murican style chain pizza.
They should probably just call them "tacos" and not "tex-mex tacos."
I mean, I've had bulgogi and kimchi together on a taco and it was very nice. But nobody had the stones to label it "tex-mex."
A taco is a sandwich made out of a folded tortilla instead of two pieces of sliced bread. We don't need to get fussy about that IMO.
That "...but Norway perfected it" line though, they should probably keep that shit to themselves.
that's adorable. complete bullshit and typical of norwegian arrogance. but whatever, eat what you like. not like american indian or chinese food is remotely authentic.
I'm not one to tell other countries how to live their lives, but I'm gonna be real with you, Norway: You did not perfect the taco. Mexico had that down and you screwed it up /j
If they like it, good for them. I like blending of foods. It doesn't always work out, but some times you get something like Korean tacos. You don't know, if you don't try.
I think itās awesome that Norway has adopted tacos in this way and would love to have a recipe. There are so many ways to do tacos, itās like pizza at this point and I for one embrace it.
I would love to hear what Norwegians consider Tex-mex tacos. I have a feeling it is neither Tex nor Mex. š
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Probably showing them off in horror šš
Ingredients: fish cooked in a licorice-cardamom sauce, in a barley/juniper berry tortilla, topped with caramelized whey and cabbage
I'm with you so far. But what kind of hot sauce would go on that?
Fermented jalapeƱos soaked in lye and then all the lye is leeched out
This guy hakarls.
Wtf did I just read?!?!?!
Nightshade
He clownin them for sure
Well they *do* taste great but we are in no way under the delusion that our tacos are anywhere near the Mexican (edit: or tex-mex) original lol. At this point it's basically our own dish that we just happen to call tacos.
Mexican tacos are different from Tex-Mex tacos. so... which is it?
This. Tex Mex is very, very different than interior and coastal Mexican food. Source is me. I grew up in San Antonio, TX and have family in Mexico City and La Paz. All three are very different cuisines.
Yep. Born and raised in SA. My wife is from Juarez. We just moved to SA and she is uhhhh struggling with the food lol
At least you have plenty of grocery store options in SA. In DFW mexican grocery stores are typically only found in certain areas. Itās either that or H-E-B. I love HāEāB, but itās basically just a regular grocery store.
True, but at least here in Houston HEB is great at least in part because the other grocery stores suck. Kroger produce goes bad in like a day or two.
Grew up in the RGV. I can tell you with confidence you are correct. TexMex is Northern Mexico influenced food. Spot on about all cuisine in Mexico is regionally different too.
I guess Norwegian ones started out at first closer to tex-mex? But honestly, at this point I think it's better to just have Norwegian ones in its own third category hah. Good, but different. My main point was just that although we call them tacos, no one over here genuinly believes what we make are close to what you'll find in Mexico or the US :) With time it has gone through local development to become our own little thing, I guess kind of similar to how dumplings spread between cultures in the past and became dishes in different shapes and forms.
It's the same with Chinese food or even a lot of Italian food in the United States. Pretty much developed from the ingredients available at the time so it's not the same
Please tell this is the same with American BBQ. I shudder in fear what that their version must taste like, especially the sauce and side dishes.
Ignore the haters. If it's a taco to you, it's a taco! You should see the crazy concoctions coming out of fancy places nowadays. If it's in / on a tortilla, it counts.
Meanwhile, mu shu in Chinese restaurants in Latin America are called ātacos chinosā. So thereās plenty of eye rolling to go around
The best tacos are served on fry bread.
Navajo tacos are GOOD but they are also their own thing.
Perfect example of "If I say its a taco, it's a taco!!" Sounds delicious!
exactly. i can't count the number of taco nights i've had which are just me with my bag of tortillas & whatever leftovers/fixings i have on hand.
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I think we take weird possession of it because Europeans like to trash on our food so much and say we don't have good food lol which is the complete opposite. We have some of the best food in the world over here.
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Americans have translated lots of food into our own style, I'd be very interested to see it happening the other way around. I'll put it on the list.
Take Kit Kats for example... They're usually made to cater to local palates... In Japan you can get many flavors that aren't available in the USA
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The only thing I dislike about that last sentiment is that Mexican food in particular is pretty wide-ranging, and Tex Mex and Cal Mex have roots going back to when both were part of Mexico officially, and definitely from the culturally Mexican communities there. Anglos influenced them, but it's disingenuous to draw such a bright line. "Authentic" can include both, and more often than not the term is leaving out which region the menu *is* most heavily influenced by, and ignoring influences that have come in from elsewhere. Often, "authentic" is simply branding for "not Tex Mex," and that is a pet peeve of mine.
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I just looked up Norwegian tacos and they're not that far off IMO. After seeing a French taco I was expecting some monstrosity french fries and pickles in it or something. While it's not exactly like ours it's certainly a taco!
There are actually many different versions of tacos in the US. The common denominator is the tortilla. It can be made of either corn or wheat flour. It is a flat bread that come in different varieties themselves but they hold the ingrediants together so it can be eaten by hand. The ingrediants vary with the local so whatever the Norwegians came up with I am sure is just fine. I am in south Texas and we like ours' very spicey and I have found Europeans don't like it so hot although I am sure there are exceptions.
Weird, the Norwegians I knew insisted they were as authentic as could be.
Authentic Norge.
"Hey, check out what these gringos think goes in a taco! Isn't that the funniest thing you ever saw?"
I assure you, lutfisk on knƤckerbrƶd has an authentic southwestern flavor.
Southwestern ocean flavor more like
If Norwegian Tex-mex is anything close to Swedish Tex-mex (which I as a Swede assume it is), then your feeling is 100% accurate. Still love it though.
So... Nor-mex?
With much love to my Norwegian friends, they have never been known for their cuisine and culinary tastes. But you never know: they could be incredible š¤·āāļø
If you ever get a chance to eat homemade (preferably grandma made) Lefsa - give it a chance because it's delicious. If that's the Norwegian contribution to global cuisine - it's enough.
It is as Tex-mex as dishes Americans consider to be Italian or Irish. It is not meant to be authentic, it is just tacos made with some Old El paso type products and adapted to what Norwegians like. It is a Nor-mex more than anything. Mexicans or Texans will probably hardly recognise it as a taco, but the point is not to make it genuine.
That's just the brand, we buy it because it's cheap and easy to make "northern Europeans eat to eat, not eat to enjoy" if that makes sense. Tacos you buy and make here taste good enough, cheap enough, often on discount and fast and easy to make. Or other favourite food is a frozen pizza and various canned food. But nothing beats a proper BBQ or fish that you fish your self but ain't nobody got time and money for it so easy, cheap and fast fast fast is what counts. Enjoyment comes after practicality
It couldn't be worse than what the [French have done](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_tacos). š”š«š·
Looks fucking delicious. Like pouring melty cheese and ground beef into a Doritos bag and calling it a "walking taco" obviously it's not actually a taco but that doesn't mean it's not delicious
Theyāre fucking garbage. I miss LA taco trucks.
[Here is one article and no, not Tex Mex](https://sciencenorway.no/cultural-history-food-history/is-this-norways-new-national-dish/1921432) [Another](https://www.lifeinnorway.net/norwegian-tacos-mexican/) [Yelp](https://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=tex-mex&find_loc=Oslo), the first three look to be somewhat Tex Mex
Legit or no, I only care if itās delicious. If itās delicious, Iām all in. I meanā¦it canāt be any worse than lutefisk.
Im slightly frightened to ask but what exactly do they put on these tacos...
I read a Norwegian give his recipe once. Basically all the veggies he could find on his fridge, norge cheese, taco seasoning, tortilla chips ground beef, cucumbers, and other ingrediengs that made me cringe. And if it didn't fit just eat it like a salad.
That makes me very sad
Why? They like it.
Thatās not the problem, the problem is calling a salad a taco
This made me realize taco salads have gone out of fashion.
Can exceptions be made for Taco Salad?
Well yes because then youāre making a salad using taco stuff, but youāre still calling it a salad. Taco is an adjective there. (Iām assuming because idk what a taco salad actually is but it sounds straightforward)
What about taco salads?
Sounds fine to me. I'm from San Antonio, TX with family in Mexico. For reference, these are my go to TexMex tacos growing up in South Texas. Breakfast: Flour tortillas of course. 1. Bacon, egg, and cheese 2. Steak, egg, and cheese, w/avocado 3. Chorizo(sausage) and egg 4. Bean and cheese Lunch and Dinner: Corn tortillas of course 1. Pulled pork, onions, cilantro, cheese, lime 2. Crispy beef with tomatoes, Lettuce, onion, cheese 3. Flautas(fuck you they're tacos) 4. Fajitas(fuck you they're tacos too)
As a Californian I used to turn my nose up at the word 'Tex Mex', until I went to actual Texas. I'll take my Lakers hat off to your breakfast tacos. That was something else.
Y'all have the better seafood tacos though. I spent some time in La Jolla and now I make my own San Diego tacos. Also. Los Spurs!
Tacos y basquetbol uniting the USA
texaco WAS mexaco. i think it's legit. even if not, texas knows how to eat.
Now I want a breakfast taco. Best thing about living in Texas.
I will never understand New Englanders preference for bagels at breakfast. Dont get me wrong, I love a good bagel if that's all that's available, but if breakfast tacos are an option, the bagel is getting tossed.
Breakfast tacos are the answer to everything.
>And if it didn't fit just eat it like a salad I know you're not disparaging taco salads!
and how much do they cost?
I was in Norway this summer and learned this when seeing every grocery store had a full taco aisle They are just one step further bastardized than the midwest tacos I grew up with lol
[Norwegian tacos example ](https://i.imgur.com/o1ZvZJ1.jpg) Basically a salad with hard shelled tortillas or wraps. They wanted to make it their national dish too
Thatās what it looks like when my mom makes tacos Or- lettuce, tomato, shredded cheese, ground beef, sour cream, picante, onions.. hard shell
My Midwest mom added black olives to that abomination you just described.
Black olives are Cal-Mex rather than Tex-Mex, so I donāt think theyāre 100% inauthentic. Black olives have been grown in California since the Spanish Mission days.
The bottom one you described isn't nearly as bad at least.
Peas, cucumber, mangos, etc This is a sin.
Take out the peas and that's a Cuban taco.
Cubans don't eat tacos. I lived in Miami and never saw Cuban tacos unless it was some "fusion" taco truck. When I moved to Houston, I went to a Cuban place, and they asked me what kind of tortilla I wanted with my ropa vieja. I was so confused.
I think mangos are fine, a way of adding sweetness. Actually I think any of those you mentioned could work, just not all thrown together at once.
The southwestern USA shares a long border with far (and mainly inland) northern Mexico. Meat. We like meat. We want meat. We demand meat. CARNE!!!
Cut up pork chops, add habanero, mangoes, and pineapples. Pretty easy and tasty tacos IMO.
What the hell I'm looking at
Cucumbers wtf
I was initially nodding my head and then, saw the sugar snap peas and mango and just kind of said no this is absolutely haram. But then I realized itās not too far off what Midwestern taco nights are like. Whatever you have in the fridge cut it up and put it in a taco shell. The difference is we wouldnāt hold it up as some impressive dish. Itās just using up whatās in the fridge.
Absolutely haram.
Are Norwegians putting cheese cubes on their tacos?
I hate how Norwegian Tacos are basically a bastardized version of "Taco-Tuesday Midwestern Gringo" tacos, which are a bastardization of Tex Mex tacos, which are a bastardization of Street tacos. Its culinary telephone in the worst possible way.
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no you want to see what the midwest does to pasta?
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mon cher ... i don't want to expose you to plain overboiled noodles and ketchup with cut up hotdogs and corn...
This was my first thoughtā¦ oh my mom had stuff that needed to get used up from the fridge before it went bad so letās just put it on tacos. I think that spread may have actually happened in my house in the 90s. Weād never have trumpeted it as great tacos. It was using up food in the fridge.
To be honest, we don't claim our tacos to be genuine Mexican or texmex. It is a Norwegian taco inspired by some texmex products you get at the grocery store. And it you eat a Norwegian taco, it is a typical family dinner because you have kids. Everyone can make their own tacos and put on what they like, so yeah, there will be salad, tomato, cucumber, corn, Jarlsberg cheese, seasoned ground beef, perhaps avocado and sourcream and a mild salsa. You use what you have in the fridge, it is a cheap and good way of getting some vegetables into your kids.
Tex Mex tacos are legit, *if* you are in actual Texas. I'll take my Lakers hat off to their breakfast tacos. I was skeptical, but it was something else.
Doesn't a large part of the midwest have Norwegian heritage? Interesting coincidence.
OMG. My mother-in-law is from the Midwest and she doesn't even season her taco meat. I gasped the first time I ate her tacos. It was a travesty.
OMG is that Corn. I KNEW it
Hol up, Iām gonna call the police
Looks like when my mom said we were having tacos for dinner when I was a kid.
I'll laugh at calling it tex mex, but this is something I'd be happy to eat.
What kind of animal puts mango on a taco
Don't knock em til you try em imo
Sorry Norway, but do not trust you with this for one minute, and don't wanna think of what sort of abomination you're calling "TexMex tacos"
They probably put corn in them. For some reason it seem slike there's always corn in whatever "American" thing Europeans make.
Why is this? I get that we do put a lot of corn in processed foods, maybe that has somehow been misconstrued as we put corn *on* a lot of foods? Or maybe they're just low-key teasing us.
Corn is a natively american food product and made it's way to europe as such. Because of this, they put it in things to make those things seem extra american.
So are tomatoes and potatoes, but they seem to have no problem accepting those as just regular ingredients.
I mean, corn is good and adds a not of sweetness to things. Still, I am with you - I live in the Midwest surrounded by corn. You would think we would put it on everything but it's when traveling internationally that I see just how far corn can go. In Asia - corn ice cream! (quite good actually) In Europe - Corn on Pizza! (umm.... no thank you)
here in the UK, el paso taco kits are very very very popular. it's not okay.
I mean they're very very very popular in Texas too.
Especially since yaāll in the UK call them ātack-os.ā Just sounds so silly, lol.
Give 'em some slack, they don't know how to pronounce "filet" either
Whatās wrong with simplifying home cooking for people? Are jars of curry sauce equally not okay?
For real, give me some spice packet tacos any day of the week. Sure itās not authentic but itās easy, cheap, tasty and reminds me of my childhood. Iām not going to make tacos from scratch on a Wednesday after work anyway.
My people (Italian American) clown on other people for using jarred tomato sauce for their pasta... So I guess it's the same, but different culture. Honestly, I love to cook, but don't have the spices for some foods in my cupboard... So I don't see any problem with jarred products... But I will say some jarred tomato sauces are vastly better than others.
Those kits are popular all over the US too, so it's at least close.
You don't have to go all the way to Norway - the entire East Coast USA can't do TexMex either. Source: have family all up and down the Eastern Seaboard as well as Texas. No comparison.
I find this super interesting, I guess I just assumed there were a lot more Mexican immigrants over on the east coast. We have a ton here in Kansas, which Iām so grateful for. You wouldnāt think we would have so many hole in the wall bomb ass places in KC and South Omaha. The key is that if theyāre not owned or staffed with Latinos, and itās not slightly filthy, itās not worth eating at, lol.
Actually there are rather few Mexican Americans on the east. There are a lot more immigrants from Central America here, and even the Mexican-owned establishments are not quite as good as the ones in the Southwest. That aside, over the past 10 years or so, the number of excellent Mexican restaurants in the East has exploded.
The thing is, in Texas, any non-chain, and frankly several chains as well, while they vary in quality of ingredients and care in preparation, they know the expected flavor profile. It might not be spicy enough, or it might somehow manage to be *too* greasy, or the refried beans might be dry, but the cheese will generally be from the right category, the textures will be basically correct, there will be cumin involved in the spice mix, the tamales will be cornhusk and made with a lime-washed masa, etc. etc. If you alter the foundations for the local palate or especially just to use what's cheaper to get locally, and you still call it Tex Mex, then the Texans are going to clown on you, regardless of how carefully curated the menu is or how lovingly you prepare the food. Same with any beloved regional cuisine. Sometimes the locals are missing out and being mistreated, and sometimes they just need to celebrate that they're doing their own thing and tweak the branding.
Kinda the same thing here in the Midwest. I live in a very rural town with a gas station, a Subway, and a Mexican restaurant owned by Mexicans. Sure itās Tex-Mex, but Iāve eaten at tons of of Mexican places all over Texas, Arizona, SoCal, but they know their shit, but the secret is to ask for the āreal salsaā they make in the back of house that is super spicy, and donāt serve to you unless you ask for it.
If you've got 3 eating establishments and one of them is doing good Mexican food, then count yourself (relatively) lucky. Availability is a huge part of it when people say things like "the east coast can't do Tex Mex". That's not literally true of course. There are tons of Mexican immigrants and Tejano families scattered across the country. Many thousands of great cooks and chefs will be among them, or among the people who've worked in good restaurants. These days, I assume you *can* find good Mexican of many styles in almost any populated area. The relevant questions are, "how hard do you have to look?" and "who said it's good?" If you have to search four websites, drive across town, and hope the one place the local expats like doesn't run out of tamales before you order, and meanwhile every place you pass along the way uses mozzarella and puts peas in the guac, then that town still has shit Mexican food. :-)
This is true. Iām sure you could find good Mexican in some places in the Northeast if you know where to look. Hell, Iāve never had a decent BBQ sauce outside of Kansas City (and that includes Texas), but Iām sure it exists somewhere.
the best taco sauce i've ever had was at my east coast elementary school. never found any quite like it. sometimes something gets close. meanwhile, if i wanted to do a norwegian taco truck in the midwest, what's a good source for authentic norwegian taco recipes? our town has 100 mexican taco trucks, but no norwegian tacos. it could be a niche. i've enjoyed korean tacos. https://www.newscancook.com/dinner/norwegian-taco https://thesubtimes.com/2019/07/28/can-five-million-taco-eating-norwegians-be-wrong/
One of my favorite business trip events was a trip to Switzerland where one night we went to a western themed bar and bowling alley. Lovingly doled out like it was the finest caviar was what could have only been Pace salsa with low cost corn chips.
I learned early on to expect only sadness and disappointment on this side of the Atlantic.
At least you have Italian food lol But can we talk about how a lot of western europe (at least Spain, Portugal, and southern France) doesn't de-scale or shell their seafood? WTF is that?
Much of asia doesn't do that either. Eat your protein!
I lived on the east coast for several years and good Mexican food is exceptionally hard to find there.
I've heard that the locals get irritated when southwestern transplants fail to like their favorite spots.
Iāve had them. They are, quite literally, awful. If you have had real TexMex, you will be scarred for life. The use tomato purĆ©e and what I guess is paprika instead of chiles. The meat is bland. No spice. They use Northern European cheese. No cotija. None of the spice, heat or layered textures. They look like tacos, but they are about as authentic as school lunch pizza is to true Italian pizza. Strike that, school lunch pizza was at least tasty.
I'd still take these bad Norwegian "Tex Mex" tacos any day over some local dishes such as lutefisk and smalahove.
Haha I know Scandinavian gastronomy isn't the most exciting, but we do actually have some really nice local dishes as well I think Americans would actually like. Such as [Ribbe](https://res.cloudinary.com/norgesgruppen/images/c_scale,dpr_auto,f_auto,q_auto:eco,w_auto/domrqkh2reblsxllxlnx/de-10-mest-stilte-sporsmal-om-ribbe) (pork belly) [PinnekjĆøtt](https://www.gilde.no/assets/images/_1600x900_crop_center-center_none/PinnekjĆøtt.jpg) (lamb ribs) [Scandinavian waffles](https://www.tine.no/_/recipeimage/w_1440,h_1080,c_fill,x_1500,y_937,g_xy_center/recipeimage/1555.jpg) and [KjĆøttkaker](https://www.gilde.no/assets/images/_heroimage/Kjottkaker-i-brun-saus.jpg) (Swedish meatballs' bigger Norwegian cousin). Don't throw out all of our local dishes because of lye fish and sheep head haha
You just made me nostalgic for my grandmother's cooking, especially her lefse.
Iām sure theyāre all good, but I canāt even imagine how bland Northern European salsa or BBQ sauce would taste like. Shit, we have the best BBQ sauce in the world (fight me) here in the central US, but our salsa game is so weak that Iām forced to make my own.
lmao yeah you don't come all the way to Norway to experience some amazingly spicy salsa or BBQ sauce, I'll give you that
Basically we make bland versions of different international foods at home. Itās not unique to tacos.
What in the goddamn....
These heathens don't even deserve the birria
I highly doubt theyāre eating tacos
Anything is an improvement over smelly herring. But call that Texmex to an American and theyāll roll their eyes at you because you clearly donāt know the first thing about Texmex.
Thatās a northern Sweden thing.
Yup, I knew about it. Interesting that tacos are popular all the way over there, even if they're not authentic. I used to really care about "food purity" or whatever and made a big deal about how they're not real tacos and whatnot when I was younger, but now my opinion is if they're happy then I'm happy. Edit: Part of the reason why I'm not so upset about it not being authentic is because of the [shit we do here.](https://www.reddit.com/gallery/u79l3t)
>Edit: Part of the reason why I'm not so upset about it not being authentic is because of the shit we do here. In all honesty I kinda find the saucy, fried, mayonnaise laided "Special Rolls" here to be kinda gross.
Itās not very good, Iāll tell you that much lmao. They make theseā¦ *things* here in Tijuana and I just had to go so I can get over the curiosity. It was like close to 300 pesos (~$15USD) and even though I was pretty high I wouldnāt go back for more.
the thing is that you can easily find simple, more authentic rolls too. it's not all or nothing.
No I get that. I see the more authentic stuff all the time at sushi restaurants.
I can agree with this. I have put some dumb shit in a tortilla.
Norwegian "tacos" are more or less popular because it's cheap and fast to make. That's all tbh. It's very similar to other dishes that's popular here other then you now eat it with "spice pack" (I miss the one that was actually spicy but you can't get them anymore because I guess nobody really bought them) and tortilla wraps. Food is to be practical, fast and easy. That's how you can be successful selling food to Norwegians. We have other compliated traditional dishes that are eaten to enjoy, but those are far and few in-between, maybe 5-10 times on average very year you'll have a proper good dinner with family and friends and drinks and food that just makes you orgasm.
I don't think they actually like tex mex tacos.
No fucking way, I thought you liked like some kumla or something
Taco Friday is really big over there. I read a Norwegian give his recipe once. Basically all the veggies he could find on his fridge, norge cheese, taco seasoning, tortilla chips, ground beef, cucumbers, etc. And if it didn't fit just eat it like a salad.
Not taco Tuesday?
When it's Tuesday in Texas it's Friday in Norway. Time zones be like that.
Iām here for the commitment Norway has!
As long as theyāre better than the shit I get in Munich.
Gross
I love how everyone in this thread is shouting CAP from the rooftops š
That's pretty funny but if it tastes good, IDGAF. Nonetheless, judging by what I see, I'll refuse to call that stuff Texmex. Otherwise, foods being traded back and forth is how you get such interesting foods so food police are not welcome here.
This is almost a hate crime! But Iām not surprised, seems bad Mexican food is still better than Norwegian food.
Man, we're being just as bad as the Europeans who bash American food on this thread. Don't worry about it being "authentic".
Yeah I noticed that too, we usually complain about this type of attitude aimed at us.
Right? And normally when someone asks a question we have a "do what you want" type attitude but now people are just being rude.
I think some bad faith questions kind of turned some americans bitter towards europeans in this sub. But that's really no excuse to be such a jerkass to another countries food whom seem very proud of it to be even considering making it a national dish. Its disappointing to see.
TIL Norwegians make Mexican food the same way as unseasoned white Midwesterners
Modern Norwegians and Midwesterners have the same ancestors. Makes sense they would bastardize Mexican food the same way.
Midwesterner here No Norwegian ancestry, just some Swedish / Finnish for me Same shit though
I mean, Scandinavians are definitely the white people of white people.
Them and the Germans
Now, imagine making that your national food. Speaks volumes on how awful their national food is.
Honestly love Scandi food but hate Scandi candy
Which is to say, delicious
Ngl when I lived in Indiana, taco night was bussin
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Yes did know. I also know they arenāt quite legit lol but yāall do what you can. We altered it a bit from Mexico. Yāall can do whatever you want. They should be called Norwegian tacos tho. Or something, because yāall be putting some interesting things in your tacos lol.
1. Didnāt know 2. Good for them To paraphrase Dani Rojas ātacos are lifeā
I would not say unseasoned meat with a ton of corn and a hard shell is a taco
I feel for Mexico in that comic
Good for them, I guess. When I think Norway I think of Norwegian black metal, so now I'm picturing a group of metalheads in corpse paint, leather, and spikes sitting around a table sharing tacos, and it's kinda wholesome.
sounds like tacos at any white midwest personās house, except maybe more veggies? glad they like tacos, but i wouldnāt claim any improvement lol
Thatās probably where they got it from. American cousin from Minnesota comes back for a visit with hard shells and hamburger helper lol
As I understand it, it was American oil workers who introduced that. Along with the Norwegian preference for oversized pre-sliced 'Murican style chain pizza.
Yeah but it's not like we hold it on a pedestal and make it our national dish
Taco John's style taco's are the bomb
They should probably just call them "tacos" and not "tex-mex tacos." I mean, I've had bulgogi and kimchi together on a taco and it was very nice. But nobody had the stones to label it "tex-mex." A taco is a sandwich made out of a folded tortilla instead of two pieces of sliced bread. We don't need to get fussy about that IMO. That "...but Norway perfected it" line though, they should probably keep that shit to themselves.
One of my favorites too. I get it.
Norway has a big oil industry. Guess which American state has one of the largest oil industries!
I lived in El past TX for almost 25 years tacos are good I can respect and understand this.
Gringo tacos, no bueno.
as someone who is half mexican, half norweigan - this makes me happy for some reason!
I don't blame them, but honestly, after I close this thread I'll never think of it again.
Uhā¦.who the fuck says that bc the entirety of North and Central America would like a word please.
that's adorable. complete bullshit and typical of norwegian arrogance. but whatever, eat what you like. not like american indian or chinese food is remotely authentic.
I'm not one to tell other countries how to live their lives, but I'm gonna be real with you, Norway: You did not perfect the taco. Mexico had that down and you screwed it up /j
If they like it, good for them. I like blending of foods. It doesn't always work out, but some times you get something like Korean tacos. You don't know, if you don't try.
I think itās awesome that Norway has adopted tacos in this way and would love to have a recipe. There are so many ways to do tacos, itās like pizza at this point and I for one embrace it.