NerdyAtlas
United States

Beef cuts in the United States

Here are the names butchers in the United States use for 41 cuts and organs, next to the standard US name for each.

Some names on this page are still being checked against published sources.

US nameIn The United StatesPart
Beef cheekBeef cheekRegional names: South & Texas: Cachete.Head
NeckChuck neck roastNeck
Chuck roll / chuck roastChuck roastAlso sold as pot roast. The chuck eye steak (also called Delmonico) is a low-cost alternative to ribeye.Chuck
Flat iron (top blade)Flat ironCut from the top blade.Chuck
RibeyeRibeyeRib
Bone-in ribeyeBone-in rib steakAlso sold as bone-in ribeye; with the rib bone frenched, it's a cowboy steak.Rib
Ribeye cap (spinalis)Ribeye capAlso called spinalis.Rib
Strip steakNew York stripAlso Kansas City strip, top loin or shell steak.Short loin
T-bone / PorterhouseT-bone / PorterhouseShort loin
TenderloinFilet mignonThick center cut is a Chateaubriand.Short loin
Top sirloinTop sirloinSirloin
Top sirloin capTop sirloin cap / coulotteAlso sold as picanha.Sirloin
Tri-tipTri-tipAlso called triangle roast or Santa Maria roast.Sirloin
Bottom sirloin flapFlap meatAlso sold as sirloin bavette; a common source of fajita meat.Sirloin
Top roundTop roundOften sold as London broil.Round
Bottom roundBottom round / rump roastRound
Eye of roundEye of roundRound
Knuckle (sirloin tip)Sirloin tipComes from the round, despite the name. Also called knuckle or round tip.Round
BrisketBrisketThe leaner flat half is the 'first cut'; the fattier half is the point.Brisket
Short ribsShort ribsCut thin across the bones, they're flanken-style (or Korean) short ribs; big plate short ribs are 'dino ribs'.Plate
Skirt steakSkirt steakAlso sold as fajita meat or arrachera.Plate
Flank steakFlank steakFlank
Hanger steakHanger steakAlso called hanging tender.Flank
Rose meat (thin flank layer)SuaderoSold under its Mexican name in Mexican markets. Regional names: Northeast: often not cut separately; Midwest: often not cut separately; West Coast: often not cut separately.Flank
ShankShankSold cross-cut; braised for dishes like osso buco.Fore shank
HumpNot usually cut separatelyBrahman-cross cattle have one, but it goes into the chuckHump
OxtailOxtailTail
BrainsSesosOccasionally at Mexican markets. Regional names: Northeast: often not cut separately; Midwest: often not cut separately; West Coast: often not cut separately.Organs & offal
EyesOjoAt taquerías serving tacos de cabeza. Regional names: Northeast: often not cut separately; Midwest: often not cut separately; West Coast: often not cut separately.Organs & offal
Beef tongueBeef tonguePickled and sliced at Jewish delis. Regional names: South & Texas: Lengua; West Coast: Lengua / beef tongue.Organs & offal
SweetbreadsSweetbreadsRegional names: South & Texas: Mollejas.Organs & offal
LungsNot usually cut separatelyUS rules don't allow lungs to be sold as foodOrgans & offal
Beef heartBeef heartPeruvian restaurants grill it as anticuchosOrgans & offal
Beef liverBeef liverLiver and onions is a diner stapleOrgans & offal
Tripe (blanket & honeycomb)Honeycomb tripePhiladelphia pepper pot soup. Regional names: South & Texas: Menudo / panza; Midwest: Tripe; West Coast: Honeycomb tripe / menudo.Organs & offal
Book tripe (omasum)LibrilloMexican markets. Regional names: Northeast: often not cut separately; Midwest: often not cut separately; West Coast: Book tripe.Organs & offal
AbomasumCuajoMexican markets. Regional names: Northeast: often not cut separately; Midwest: often not cut separately; West Coast: often not cut separately.Organs & offal
Beef kidneyBeef kidneyMostly for steak-and-kidney pieOrgans & offal
Small intestineTripitasTacos de tripa, fried crisp. Regional names: Northeast: often not cut separately; Midwest: often not cut separately.Organs & offal
Large intestineBeef middlesIndustry name; used as casings for bologna and salamiOrgans & offal
TesticlesRocky Mountain oystersAlso 'prairie oysters'. Regional names: Northeast: often not cut separately; South & Texas: Calf fries.Organs & offal
Cow feetCow feetSouthern and Caribbean stewsOrgans & offal
Marrow bonesMarrow bonesSplit lengthwise, they're sold as canoe bones.Organs & offal

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