“SA Is a Country of Foodies”: American Expat Stunned by Flavourful Mexican Street Food in Cape Town
- American expat Kourtney visited Cape Town eatery Mamacitas with her husband and sampled their Los Angeles-inspired menu
- The spread included cauliflower tacos, seafood nachos loaded with calamari and prawns, and a flight of colourful margaritas
- South Africans online fired back with pride, reminding the expat that Mzansi takes its food culture very seriously
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Source: Instagram
An American expat living in Cape Town got more than she bargained for when she decided to put the city's Mexican food scene to the test. Kourtney, who shares her Cape Town life on Instagram as @kourtneyjadexcapetown, visited Mamacitas with her husband on 27 October 2026. The popular eatery is known for its Los Angeles-inspired street food, and it clearly left an impression. The couple ordered cauliflower tacos, seafood nachos piled high with calamari and prawns, and a margarita flight in a range of vivid colours.
Cape Town's food scene speaks for itself
Between bites, Kourtney could not help but ask out loud who permitted South Africa to get this good at West Coast American flavours. She called the cauliflower taco one of the best she had ever eaten, and by the end of the meal, both she and her husband were already planning a return visit.
What stood out beyond the food was the full experience at Mamacitas: a hip-hop playlist, bold presentation, and a culinary confidence that Kourtney clearly did not see coming. For an expat who grew up in the United States, finding that level of execution in a Cape Town neighbourhood felt like a genuine surprise. The video quickly resonated with South Africans online, who responded with a mix of pride and playful pushback.
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Watch Kourtney's Mamacitas visit in the Instagram reel below:
Mzansi reacts to the foodie verdict
The reaction said it all. Cape Town's food scene is not trying to impress anyone; it does what it does, and visitors keep finding out the hard way. South Africans in the comments had plenty to say:
@sheenaslabbert wrote:
"South Africa is a country of foodies. Food is a culture here. Not everything is American."
@tsholo_naksnakedi agreed:
"We don't miss anything, girl, 🥰. We don't play ❤️."
@chiko_xo brought the humour:
"Tacos being classified as 'American' street food is a joke 😂."
@tsepoq tagged a friend:
"@leratoleg That's our favourite margarita place in the hood."
@ma_legacy_ said:
"Mmmh delicious!"
Even Mamacitas themselves joined the conversation.
@mamacitassa responded with:
"👏 Love this, guys."
3 Briefly News articles about food
- Western Cape food creator Olivia Viglatzis won the hearts of South Africans with her viral recipe series demonstrating how to cook filling, nutritious dinners for as little as R10 to R20 a meal.
- A heartwarming video of a loving niece treating her shy uncle to his first-ever restaurant outing touched social media users, inspiring widespread praise for celebrating often-overlooked family bonds.
- A viral TikTok breakdown listing South Africa's five most expensive fine-dining spots stunned social media users with lavish per-person price tags at spots dominated by Cape Town culinary heavyweights.
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Source: Briefly News
