In which dialect of Mandarin can I see or hear 乳酪?
Your Taiwanese friend said 奶酪 is more popular than 乳酪 in Taiwan, then it is probably true.
When I say '芝士' is the term Hong Kong Chinese most commonly use to describe 'cheese' you should believe me too.
I would say 乳酪 is more popular in written Chinese, because I rarely see  奶酪  appear in any text. On the other hand, I had came across the term 乳酪 many many times in menu, cook book, label etc.