Little Joe's Express - Alameda

The house special fried rice is a standout, featuring diced BBQ pork, tender chicken thigh, slices of beef, and several large prawns. It’s not overly greasy, doesn’t have that stale oil taste, and there’s no pool of grease left on the plate, indicating the chef uses high heat and cooks with precision. We also tried the cashew chicken and broccoli beef, both of which were made with impressively fresh ingredients. The cashew chicken was a delight, with perfectly cooked zucchini, crunchy celery, and a few halved button mushrooms. There were no wilted celery or overripe squash in sight, and a generous helping of cashews meant we didn’t have to skimp on flavor. The broccoli beef was also commendable, loaded with fresh, crisp broccoli—almost too crisp, as it could have benefited from an extra 30 seconds of cooking! The beef was tender and free from the usual Cantonese trick of using baking soda to puff it up, which I greatly appreciated, as I prefer my beef without that texture. The restaurant itself is small and quite basic; we dined under fluorescent lights while a TV displayed a sports game, so don’t expect an intimate ambiance. However, the quality of the food more than makes up for the lack of décor. While take-out seems to be the most popular choice here, don’t let the sparse dining area deter you from enjoying a meal at Little Joe's!

Delicious food at great prices! The staff was very polite and understanding when I arrived to pick up my order just five minutes before closing (and I sincerely apologize for that). This has now become my go-to spot for Chinese food in the Alameda area.

I enjoyed some delicious dishes and received wonderful service. The transition to Chinese-style cuisine was impressive. Thank you!

I had a wonderful experience at this restaurant! The food is not only delicious but also reasonably priced. The staff was incredibly polite and understanding when I arrived to pick up my order just five minutes before closing (I sincerely apologize for that). This has officially become my go-to spot for Chinese cuisine in the Alameda area!

It's a bit of a mixed bag. However, once you familiarize yourself with the menu, you'll discover what dishes are worth ordering and which ones to skip. The service and delivery consistently earn 5 stars. My personal favorite Chinese dish is sweet and sour anything, but I would recommend avoiding it here because they use mayonnaise. I'm not sure why, but it results in a thick, sticky texture that's not very appealing. The egg rolls are a bit greasy, but they do taste good, so if you can overlook that, they're worth trying. Our go-to favorites include the shrimp and BBQ pork fried rice, BBQ pork chow mein, crispy shrimp, and broccoli. We tend to stick to these dishes but occasionally experiment with something new just for the fun of it. Enjoy!