Paisa’s Cheese Steak has every topping the Classic Philly Cheese Steak has, plus jalapeños on top — and it costs 25 cents less. That’s not a typo, and it’s not a discount code. It’s just how these two are priced.
Here’s exactly what’s in each one, why that price gap is worth knowing about before you order, and how to pick between them.
Our complete cheesesteak guide covers all ten cheesesteaks we make. This is a closer look at just these two, since they’re the most directly comparable pair on the whole list — same three core toppings, one ingredient apart, and priced in a way that doesn’t follow the pattern you’d expect.
Paisa’s Cheese Steak vs. Classic Philly Cheese Steak at a Glance
| Paisa’s Cheese Steak | Classic Philly Cheese Steak | |
|---|---|---|
| Toppings | Onions, green peppers, mushrooms, jalapeños | Green peppers, onions, mushrooms |
| Topping count | 4 | 3 |
| Price | $10.00 | $10.25 |
| Heat | Spicy (jalapeños) | Mild |
Paisa’s Cheese Steak: Our Signature, and the Spicier Option
The Paisa’s Cheese Steak is our own build: onions, green peppers, mushrooms, and jalapeños, all on a griddled steak-and-cheese base. It’s our signature item for a reason — it’s the only cheesesteak on the menu with real heat built in.
Jalapeños are what separate this from every other vegetable-loaded cheesesteak we make. According to PepperScale’s breakdown of jalapeño heat, jalapeños typically measure 2,500 to 8,000 Scoville Heat Units — a moderate, genuinely noticeable heat, well above a bell pepper’s zero but nowhere near a habanero or ghost pepper. It’s enough to register as real spice without overwhelming the steak and cheese underneath.
The other three toppings — onions, green peppers, mushrooms — are the exact same ones on the Classic Philly. Nothing is removed to make room for the jalapeños; they’re simply added on top of the same base.
Classic Philly Cheese Steak: The Traditional, Milder Build
The Classic Philly Cheese Steak is green peppers, onions, and mushrooms, with no added heat. It’s the more traditional of the two — the loaded, vegetable-forward build most people picture when they think of a fully-dressed Philly cheesesteak.
If you want the classic loaded flavor without any spice at all, this is the one to order. The three toppings are given more room to stand out on their own, without jalapeños competing for attention alongside them.
The Price Gap Worth Knowing About
Here’s the part that doesn’t follow the pattern you’d expect: Paisa’s Cheese Steak has one more topping than the Classic Philly, and it’s still 25 cents cheaper — $10.00 versus $10.25.
Across the rest of the cheesesteak menu, price generally does track topping count — the plain Steak is cheapest at $9.00, and items get more expensive as more goes on top. Paisa’s Cheese Steak is the one exception to that pattern, and it’s a genuinely useful thing to know if you assumed “classic” meant “priced higher because it’s fancier” or that more toppings always costs more.
It also means there’s no financial reason to pick the milder option over the spicier one, or vice versa. If price were the only factor, Paisa’s Cheese Steak would be the easy pick — it’s both more loaded and less expensive. The choice really does come down entirely to whether you want the heat.
Same Three Toppings, Different Result
Because Paisa’s Cheese Steak keeps every topping the Classic Philly has, the two aren’t really offering two different flavor directions — one is simply the other plus jalapeños. That makes this one of the more predictable comparisons on the whole cheesesteak menu: if you’ve had one, you already know most of what the other tastes like.
That’s different from most of our other cheesesteak comparisons, where the toppings genuinely diverge — the BBQ Chicken Cheese Steak and Buffalo Chicken Cheesesteak, for example, use entirely different sauces rather than one simply adding to the other. Here, the entire decision is isolated to a single variable: jalapeños, yes or no.
Texture stays consistent between the two as well, since all four toppings are vegetables cooked the same way. Adding jalapeños to the mix doesn’t change how the sandwich handles or eats — it changes the flavor and heat, not the bite. That’s part of why this comparison is simpler than most of the others on our cheesesteak menu: there’s no format shift to account for, just one more ingredient layered onto a build you already understand.
Ordering for Different Preferences
If you’re ordering for a group and don’t know everyone’s spice tolerance, it helps to think of these two as a single build with an on/off switch for heat rather than two unrelated sandwiches. Anyone who wants the loaded, vegetable-forward flavor without a second thought can get the Classic Philly. Anyone who wants that same flavor with real heat layered on top can get Paisa’s, and neither person misses out on the peppers, onions, or mushrooms either way.
It’s also worth comparing this pair to our Paisa’s Cheeseburger, which uses jalapeños the same way — added on top of an existing build rather than replacing anything. If you’ve tried that burger and liked the heat, you already know roughly what to expect from Paisa’s Cheese Steak.
Pros and Cons of Each
| Cheesesteak | Best For | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Paisa’s Cheese Steak | More toppings, real heat, lower price | Not for anyone avoiding spice |
| Classic Philly Cheese Steak | Traditional loaded flavor, no heat | Costs more despite fewer toppings |
Which One Should You Order?
If you want real heat and don’t mind jalapeños, order Paisa’s Cheese Steak — you’ll get more toppings for less money. If you want the classic, fully-loaded flavor without any spice, order the Classic Philly Cheese Steak.
There isn’t a version of this decision where price should sway you toward the Classic Philly. The only real question is heat tolerance: if jalapeños sound good, there’s no reason to pay more for less. If you’d rather skip the spice entirely, the extra quarter buys you exactly that.
See the rest of the lineup, including the plain Steak and both chicken versions, in our complete cheesesteak guide, or read our Chicken Cheesesteak vs. Cheesesteak comparison if you’re deciding between steak and chicken instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What’s the difference between Paisa’s Cheese Steak and Classic Philly Cheese Steak?
- Paisa’s Cheese Steak has onions, green peppers, mushrooms, and jalapeños. Classic Philly Cheese Steak has the same three toppings minus the jalapeños.
- Why is Paisa’s Cheese Steak cheaper than the Classic Philly if it has more toppings?
- That’s simply how the two are priced on our menu — $10.00 for Paisa’s Cheese Steak versus $10.25 for the Classic Philly, despite Paisa’s having one more topping.
- Which cheesesteak is spicier?
- Paisa’s Cheese Steak, thanks to the added jalapeños. The Classic Philly Cheese Steak has no added heat.
- Is the Classic Philly Cheese Steak the same as a traditional Philadelphia cheesesteak?
- It’s our version of the classic loaded style — green peppers, onions, and mushrooms on steak and cheese, without any signature additions like jalapeños.
- Do both cheesesteaks come with the same cheese?
- Our recovered descriptions don’t specify the cheese type for either. Call (215) 904-7353 to confirm before ordering if that matters to you.
- Can I get the Classic Philly with jalapeños added?
- Call (215) 904-7353 to ask about customizing either cheesesteak — our recovered descriptions only cover the standard build for each.
More toppings, more heat, less money — or the classic without the spice.