by Bottom Line: The Ghostface Killah Pizza from Empire Slice House offers an odd combination of ingredients, but everything works perfectly to deliver a tasty pie that brings the heat.
Oklahoma City may not be the place you associate with first-rate pizza, but if you happen to be in town and craving a really good pie, I recommend stopping at Empire Slice House. They’re slinging some dough and adding fresh ingredients in unique combinations to deliver some of the best pizzas around—including a few that have a kick.
I previously reviewed the Foghorn Leghorn pizza (you can read about that here) and highly recommended that one. And I was in town just recently and tried one of their new combinations, the ominously named Ghostface Killah. Here’s what comes on that pie: shredded 100% whole milk mozzarella, ghost chili marinara, pepperoni, poblano peppers, and BBQ chips. It may sound like an odd collection of ingredients, but it delivers one seriously tasty and spicy pizza.
The crust is an essential part of this pie and possibly the star of the show. It’s thin with some crispiness, but I wouldn’t call it cracker-like. There is a soft, pillowy interior (especially the edges) with a bit of sweetness and a slight yeastiness. It holds up to all the toppings without getting soggy, enhancing the experience with every bite. Pretty much any toppings will taste good on this crust!
The sauce for the Ghostface Killah has a little sweetness balanced by a nice peppery kick from the chili peppers, but it’s not overwhelmingly hot as you might expect. The cheese brings a good sharpness and creaminess—not too stringy but still quite flavorful. The pepperoni adds a nice saltiness along with savory and spice. The poblano peppers are an unexpected addition, but they pair perfectly with the pepperoni. I’m not sure if they’re roasted since they still have some chew, but from now on, I’m adding this chili with pepperoni when I make my own pizzas. The crushed BBQ chips (they appear to be Lay’s) contribute a touch of smokiness, a bit of sweetness, and a satisfying crunch.
As for the heat, you might expect this one to set your mouth on fire right away, but it’s more of a slow burn. The first few bites deliver some spice, but it’s manageable. It never reaches the point of heat for the sake of pain, but I definitely felt the burn throughout my mouth—even a slight tingling on my lips. I would put it a little above Hot on my scale, and this pie crosses into that perfect juncture where Fire meets Flavor. It’s not a barnburner, but it brings the heat along with really good taste to deliver one excellent pizza pie.
There’s no nutrition info available for this pizza, but I can assure you that this is not diet food. And I definitely shouldn’t have eaten three slices, but it was so good I couldn’t stop (plus, I knew it would be a while before my next visit). Empire Slice House is a local chain with locations in OKC, Tulsa, Stillwater, and Edmond. I visited the OKC spot and try to stop by whenever I’m in town. Their prices are higher than the national chains, but the quality of pizza is absolutely worth it, and I highly recommend checking this place out.
Empire Slice House
1804 NW 16th St,
Oklahoma City, OK 73106
Phone: (405) 557-1760
Website: https://www.empireslicepizza.com/
Hours:
Sun – Thu: 11 AM to 11 PM
Fri – Sat: 11 AM to 12 AM
