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Cheap Eats La Victoria Taqueria 140 E. San Carlos St., San Jose; 408.298.5335; 7am-2am daily By Traci Vogel LA VICTORIA Taqueria has long been synonymous with "orange sauce," the name of which refers to the color, not the flavor. Orange sauce hits the mouth like a house afire, and the recipe of the addictive condiment is a closely held house secret. All of which continues the house theme inherent to this friendly taqueria located in a Victorian-style abode just steps west from the San Jose State University campus. What comes out of the kitchen is fresh-tasting taqueria fare, including a super burrito with a choice of meat for $4.50 that has sustained generations of starving students. Many of these students--and alumni--can be seen standing in the lunch line that daily stretches to the taqueria's front steps. Service is always friendly and quick. If lunch seems too far away for that orange sauce fix, La Vic also offers breakfast burritos, a great Cheap Eats deal at $1.75, 7-11am daily. These kick off a carbohydrate awakening, packed with perfectly cooked potatoes, cheese, scrambled eggs or chorizo. What's more, La Vic--along with its affable rival, Iguana Taqueria, around the corner--is one of the few places to eat late downtown. At 1am, after a night of dancing or studying, La Vic's super nachos ($4.95) can seem like another reason to live to see another day, and another breakfast burrito. Send a letter to the editor about this story to letters@metronews.com. [ Silicon Valley | Metroactive Home | Archives ]