This Oklahoma Pizza Spot Is Cheesy, Creative, and Totally Worth Every Slice

I’ve had plenty of decent slices in my life. Grab it, fold it, move on.

Then I walked into Empire Slice House in Oklahoma City and realized this wasn’t going to be a quick bite. The place has energy.

Big New York style slices come out hot and oversized, loaded with bold toppings that don’t play it safe. Every pie has personality, from the classics to the creative combos that somehow just work.

It feels less like a routine pizza stop and more like an event you plan your day around. If you take your pizza even a little seriously, this spot is absolutely worth your time.

Quick Snapshot: What You Need to Know Before You Go

Before you even step through the door, let me give you the full picture so you show up ready. Empire Slice House is a hip, no-fuss pizza joint in Oklahoma City’s Plaza District that has earned a 4.7-star rating from numerous reviews.

That is not a fluke.

Name: Empire Slice House – Plaza

Type: New York-style pizza restaurant

Setting: Casual, music-themed interior with artist murals, bar seating, and a turf patio

Location: 1804 NW 16th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73106

Hours: Opens at 11 AM daily; closes at 11 PM Sunday through Thursday, midnight on Friday and Saturday

Portions: Large and filling. One or two slices is usually enough for most people

The vibe here is relaxed but energetic. It is the kind of place where you can slide in solo for a quick lunch or roll in with a group of eight and still have a great time.

Parking can be tight on busy weekends, so arriving a little early never hurts.

Best For: Anyone who loves creative pizza, generous portions, and a laid-back atmosphere that feels genuinely local rather than corporate.

Why This Pizza Is Worth the Drive Across Oklahoma City

People drive across town for this pizza, and honestly, once you try it, you will completely understand why. Empire Slice House has mastered the New York-style slice in a way that feels rare for a landlocked state.

The crust is chewy, the sauce is applied with intention, and the cheese pull is real.

What sets this place apart is not just the execution but the creativity behind every pie on the menu. You are not choosing between plain cheese and pepperoni here.

You are choosing between names like Notorious P.I.G., Foghorn Leghorn, and Joezilla. Every slice has a personality of its own.

Why It Matters

Oklahoma City has a growing food scene, and Empire Slice House is one of the spots that helped put it on the map. Multiple visitors who grew up in New York have called it the closest thing to home they have found in OKC.

The pizza is consistently praised for its fresh ingredients, flavorful crust, and the kind of satisfying heaviness that means you are not hungry again for hours. One person put it perfectly: the crust, sauce, cheese, and toppings combined their superpowers.

That is exactly what a great pizza should do.

Pro Tip: Order by the slice first to try multiple flavors before committing to a whole pie.

The Creative Menu Is Absolutely the Star of the Show

The menu at Empire Slice House reads like a playlist from a music fan who also happens to love food. Every pizza has a name that makes you stop and smile before you even taste it.

That playfulness is not just for show. It signals that the people behind this kitchen genuinely care about what they are making.

Fan favorites include the Notorious P.I.G., Doug E Fresh, Joezilla, and the Foghorn Leghorn. The Foghorn Leghorn features bacon, chicken, jalapeno, and sriracha, which sounds bold and delivers exactly that.

The pickle pizza has also developed a loyal following among people who were skeptical at first bite.

Quick Verdict: The menu balances familiar comfort with genuine culinary risk-taking. There is something here for the classic cheese lover and the adventurous eater at the same table.

Empire also offers a special of the day slice, which is worth asking about every single visit. The rotating specials keep regulars coming back and give first-timers a reason to return.

One tourist mentioned ordering the special slice on a recommendation and calling it a highlight of the meal.

Insider Tip: Ask your server what the slice of the day is before ordering. The staff here genuinely knows the menu and loves to help you pick.

Garlic Knots That Deserve Their Own Fan Club

Nobody walks into Empire Slice House planning to obsess over the garlic knots. And yet, here we are.

Guest mention them with the kind of enthusiasm usually reserved for the main event. One visitor admitted the table ate them so fast there was no time to take a photo.

Another described them as a crowd pleaser that makes the decision between one slice or two feel less urgent.

These are not the dry, forgettable garlic knots that come as an afterthought at lesser pizza joints. They arrive golden, soft on the inside, and packed with garlic flavor that lingers in the best possible way.

Paired with the house dipping sauce, they are the kind of appetizer that makes the whole table go quiet for a moment.

Best Strategy: Order the garlic knots for the table while you are still deciding on slices. They arrive quickly and give everyone something to enjoy while the real deliberation happens.

The ranch dipping sauce also gets a shoutout and pairs surprisingly well with both the knots and the pizza. It is the kind of small detail that shows the kitchen is paying attention to the full experience, not just the main attraction.

Fun Fact: If you are stuck between one slice or two, the garlic knots are the official Empire Slice House answer to that dilemma.

The Atmosphere Hits Different Here

Walking into Empire Slice House feels like stepping into a space that was designed by someone who actually hangs out here. The music theme runs through everything, from the pizza names to the artwork on the walls.

Several locals have specifically mentioned the murals and the overall creative energy of the interior as something that stuck with them.

The bar seating is popular for solo visits or date nights, and the outdoor turf patio adds a relaxed, social layer that works especially well on nice evenings. One couple came in on a Wednesday night at 10:20 PM, watched a Thunder game at the bar, and left raving about the vibe.

That says a lot about how this place feels at different hours and on different kinds of nights.

Who This Is For: Music lovers, pizza enthusiasts, people who want a casual but memorable night out, families with kids, and solo diners looking for a lively spot with good energy.

Who This Is Not For: Anyone expecting a quiet, formal dining environment. Empire Slice House is upbeat, social, and built for people who want to feel the room around them.

The staff contributes heavily to the atmosphere too. People described servers and bartenders as warm, attentive, and genuinely knowledgeable about the menu.

That human energy is part of what makes the place feel so alive.

Now We Are Halfway Through and It Only Gets Better From Here

So far we have covered the menu, the garlic knots, and the atmosphere. But there is more to this place than what shows up on first glance.

The real depth of Empire Slice House comes out when you start noticing the smaller things, the way the staff treats first-timers versus regulars, the flexibility of ordering by the slice, and the little details that keep people coming back year after year.

One visitor said each visit gives them a new reason to recommend the place. Another came in during a 48-hour stopover in Oklahoma City and said they would be back in July 2026.

That kind of loyalty does not come from decent pizza. It comes from a place that consistently delivers something worth returning to.

Reality Check: Empire Slice House is not trying to be a fancy restaurant. It is trying to be the best version of a neighborhood pizza spot, and it is succeeding in a way that very few places manage.

The upcoming sections cover service, the by-the-slice model, the tattoo deal that has become local legend, and practical tips for getting the most out of your visit. Keep reading, because the tattoo story alone is worth it.

Service That Makes You Want to Leave a Five-Star Review Right at the Table

Great pizza can be ruined by bad service. Empire Slice House seems to understand this at a foundational level.

The staff gets, praised, and described with genuine warmth.

Tripp was praised for being patient with a family that had kids, which anyone who has dined with small children knows is a real skill. One visitor from Japan said he felt completely at home.

The staff was knowledgeable about the best places to eat and explore in OKC, which is the kind of above-and-beyond quality that turns a good meal into a great memory.

Common Mistakes to Avoid: Do not rush your server with questions. The staff here loves to guide you through the menu, and taking a moment to ask for recommendations almost always results in a better meal.

The attentiveness extends to refills, pacing, and general table awareness. Visitors mentioned never having to ask for a refill, which is a small thing that signals a well-trained and genuinely caring team.

For families, ask about baby dough for the kids. It is a small touch that tourists have specifically mentioned keeping young ones happy and occupied during the meal.

Ordering by the Slice Is a Genius Move You Should Not Skip

One of the smartest things about Empire Slice House is that you do not have to commit to a whole pizza to have a great time. The by-the-slice model lets you try three completely different flavor profiles in one sitting, which is exactly what adventurous eaters want and what indecisive people desperately need.

People regularly mention ordering two or three different slices and comparing them at the table. It turns the meal into a little tasting event.

One group ordered the Doug E Fresh, Joezilla, and Notorious P.I.G. in a single visit and loved all three. Another person mentioned getting six individual slices during a time crunch and having them ready in six minutes without any drop in quality.

Planning Advice: If it is your first visit, skip the whole pie and go straight to the slice menu. Pick two or three that sound interesting to you and work your way through them.

You will leave with a much better sense of what to order on your next visit.

The slices here are large enough that two is usually a full meal for most people. If you are especially hungry or sharing with someone who wants variety, three slices covers a lot of ground.

The portions are generous without being wasteful, which is the right balance for a by-the-slice pizza spot.

Final Verdict: The Tattoo Deal, the Legacy, and Why You Should Go This Week

Let’s end with the detail that has become something of a local legend. If you get an Empire Slice House tattoo, pizza is half off for life.

That is not a typo. Locals have mentioned it, and the owner has responded to praises referencing it with genuine excitement.

It is the kind of bold, personality-driven policy that tells you everything about what kind of place this is.

Empire Slice House is not trying to be a chain. It is not trying to appeal to everyone.

It is a local favorite that has built something real in Oklahoma City’s Plaza District, and the 4.7-star rating from over 5,000 people is the proof.

Key Takeaways:

Creative New York-style slices with bold names and bolder flavors

Order the garlic knots without question

Service is consistently warm, attentive, and genuinely helpful

The by-the-slice model is perfect for first-timers and regulars alike

The atmosphere is music-themed, energetic, and welcoming for all types of visitors

Open daily from 11 AM, with late-night hours on weekends

Empire Slice House – Plaza is located at 1804 NW 16th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73106, in the heart of the Plaza District. It is the kind of place that makes you genuinely happy you showed up, and even happier you found it.