Little Oven Pizza - Merced, California

Vignesh M.

Little Oven Pizza offers a truly unique experience, and I was blown away by their New York style pizzas.

Pistachio Pizza: The Pistachio Pizza was on a completely different level—nothing like I’ve ever tasted before. Initially, I was skeptical when the staff mentioned it was one of their specials, but once I took a bite, I couldn’t stop. The pistachios brought a rich, earthy flavor that paired surprisingly well with the other ingredients, creating a one-of-a-kind pizza experience. It’s definitely worth trying if you’re looking for something adventurous and unique.

Service: The service was excellent. The staff were incredibly helpful, understanding, and made great recommendations. They were attentive and genuinely seemed to care about giving us a great experience, which added to the overall enjoyment of the meal.

Ambience: The ambience is more like a bar vibe—relaxed but with a lively energy. It’s a nice space to hang out, but it can get pretty noisy, especially during peak hours, so it might not be the best place if you’re looking for a quiet dinner. However, the overall feel is pleasant, and the atmosphere adds to the experience.

Wait Time & Slices: One thing to keep in mind is that the pizza slices are first come, first served. The wait times and lines can be really long, so it’s best to plan ahead if you’re in a hurry. For some of the pizzas, the staff even recommended ordering early in the morning for a night pickup, which might sound like a joke, but it’s definitely necessary if you want to avoid long waits.

Overall, Little Oven Pizza has some of the most unique and flavorful pizzas I’ve ever had, along with great service and a lively ambience. Just be prepared for the wait, and plan ahead if you’re aiming for a specific pizza!

Jessica H.

Little Oven has the best pizza around, even New Yorkers & other Eastcoasters commend this pizza. It's honestly my local go to. My little local addiction & comfort food. Little Oven Pizza is conveniently located in the heart of Merced. The staff is awesome. ❤️

J H.

Little Oven is by far the best pizza out here in the 209!
Let's start w their food: superb. Pizza by the slice (cheez, pepperoni, a veggie special and a meat special) as well as whole pies. Follow their instagram for their daily menu (with pix!) If you are like me and drive from out of town i do recommend calling ahead to see what the wait time is looking like for a whole pie (they r busy for a reason!)
Fave pizza: pictured u will see the RUCULA pizza; the perfect combination of sweet and savory w the arugula, honey vinaigrette, and bacon. My mouth is watering just remembering ... 🤤🤤
The restaurant: the limited seating really gives it a homey and personal vibe and can even spur friendly conversation w other patrons. I appreciate how plugged into the community they are with tons of local flyers decorating the entrance, the diversity flags and the quirky artwork. Not to mention that they were closed for a few days at the end of 2024 to treat their employees to some well deserved time off.
This is a local business I am happy to support. Love you Little Oven Pizza!

Will N.

New Yorker in Merced for Yosemite. My Hotel referred me to little oven pizza and this place did not disappoint. Pizza is legit. Awesome recipes for the special pies, atmosphere is dope and service was great. Definitely in my all time top 3 for pizza. Thanks, I’ll be back next time I’m in Merced !!

Jacob H.

Wow.. I love finding hidden 💎 in places I least expect… always a good sign when one’s favorite nyc pizza place (Scarrs) also happens to follow them… had to try their meat patty special pizza and also of course get a whole pie (carmalized onions was the choice) both weee outstanding, super tasty and crunchy crust.. felt similar style pizza just on a different coast in a much smaller city or is Modesto a town? 🤷‍♂️ anyways… this place should be selling out nightly..

Gabriel H.

Update: Came back again while driving through and just as the first time nothing but the best! The employees handled our big order perfectly and although they missed one of our orders they were quick to fix and even gave us a free slice. I love this place! My mom came for the first time and said it’s the best pizza she had! I tried both of the specials and I was just as amazed as the first time. I’ll be a customer for life now!

First time trying this little place out and me and my sister were surprised with how delicious it was! We let the new employee know it was our first time and she broke down the menu for us. We got pepperoni and sweet heat! Both delicious and hot and crispy and perfect! We’ll be back just for this pizza. The new employee training was super sweet and even asked how everything was after. My sister said the hot honey ranch was also freakin good!

Bay A. R.

I was in town and ordered 2 slices and WOW, this is hands down a great tasting pizza. If in the area check this place out 💥

Ross A.

Little Oven Pizza is incredible NY Style pizza. If you're into thin crust, locally sourced ingredients and a cool spot to grab a slice, then look no further. Their rotating specials are amazing, especially the Bee Thousand. Easily the best pizza on the west coast.