A North Carolina woman named Romina recently went viral on TikTok after sharing a story about her long-standing fear of going to the carniceria, a Mexican butcher shop. The video, posted on her account @rominasvida, struck a chord with many viewers who found humor and relatability in her struggle to order meat the way she wanted it.
Romina explained that she has always felt nervous at the carniceria because she has trouble communicating exactly what she wants. She said she speaks both Spanish and English, but when it comes to ordering specific cuts of meat, the words just do not come out right. She recalled a past visit where she tried to ask the butcher to slice her meat thin for making a dish like milanesa.
Romina said she kept trying to say “quiero filet” but the staff could not understand her, and even her teenage daughter, who was with her, looked at her confused. On her most recent visit, Romina decided to bring her “nice daughter” along for support, since she described having one daughter who is kind to her and another who is “a little bit of a bully.”
Turns out even bringing backup to the carniceria is not a safe bet
But things did not go as planned. When she arrived at the shop, her mom happened to already be there. Instead of backing her up, her mom began lecturing her in front of the butchers, with the staff seemingly siding with the mom. Romina said she felt completely alone in the moment and was getting “bullied” not just by the butchers but now by her own mother too.
Romina said the whole experience left her feeling embarrassed, and she admitted in the video that this is exactly why she usually shops at Sprouts and Whole Foods instead. She said she knows how that sounds, and she even called herself “the most Mexican” person she knows, but cooking and navigating the butcher shop is just not her strong suit. Sometimes everyday errands can take a completely unexpected turn, much like a woman’s $300 dinner that went sideways at a Las Vegas steakhouse.
The video quickly gained traction online, with many people sharing their own similar stories in the comments. One viewer summed it up simply, saying “carniceria anxiety is real,” and added that they still go back because it is the best spot for carne asada.
They even admitted to practicing their order out loud beforehand, including figuring out what to do when their number gets called in the crowd. Another commenter said they just avoid the counter altogether, writing “I get the stuff that’s already prepackaged in the fridges. I don’t want to talk to anyone.”
Some viewers said the struggle goes beyond just ordering. One person wrote that they never really knew what to ask for and would always call their mom first to ask “Que pido?” meaning “What do I order?” They even joked about making videos to help others learn how to ask for different cuts of meat.
Another commenter said the anxiety extends to specific items too, writing that they cannot bring themselves to order chorizo and send their husband instead after a butcher once asked them a question they did not know how to answer.
Romina’s video is a good reminder that these kinds of everyday situations can feel way more stressful than they look from the outside. Sometimes, the pressure of a moment can catch you completely off guard, similar to how a sleeping woman narrowly escaped danger after dozing off in her parked car. Her story hit home for a lot of people, and the comments made it clear she is far from alone.
Published: May 12, 2026 11:34 am