Flap Steak vs Striploin — What's the Difference?
Quick Answer
Flap Steak (flap steak (sirloin flap)) and Striploin (striploin (strip steak)) are not the same cut: Flap Steak is sirloin primal (Bottom sirloin, obliquus internus abdominis muscle); Striploin is loin primal (longissimus dorsi (short loin)).
Canonical entities: Flap Steak · Striploin
Side-by-side
| flap steak | striploin | |
|---|---|---|
| Primal | sirloin | loin |
| Muscle / location | Bottom sirloin, obliquus internus abdominis muscle | longissimus dorsi (short loin) |
| Character | A thin, coarse-grained steak from the bottom sirloin. The American name for what the French call bavette d'aloyau. Open grain absorbs marinades extremely well. Popular for fajitas, stir-fry, and carne asada. Often confused with skirt steak but from a different location entirely. | Leaner than ribeye; the classic strip steak muscle running along the short loin. |
Key differences
- Different primals: sirloin vs loin.
- Texture and slicing: compare fibrous, grain-heavy cuts vs more tender steak-style muscles based on each cut’s description.
- Retail naming diverges by country—always map through a canonical cut when translating menus or labels.
When to use each
Flap Steak
Pick Flap Steak when you want its specific marbling/texture profile: A thin, coarse-grained steak from the bottom sirloin. The American name for what the French call bavette d'aloyau. Open grain absorbs marinades extremely well. Popular for fajitas, stir-fry, and carne asada. Often confused with skirt steak but from a different location entirely.
Striploin
Pick Striploin when its primal/muscle traits fit the dish: Leaner than ribeye; the classic strip steak muscle running along the short loin.
Flap Steak and Striploin are different canonical muscles/primals: Flap Steak is sirloin (Bottom sirloin, obliquus internus abdominis muscle); Striploin is loin (longissimus dorsi (short loin)).
Choose based on tenderness, marbling, grain direction, and how you plan to cook (sear vs braise vs slice thin).
Read the full guides: flap steak (what-is) · striploin (what-is) · flap steak hub · striploin hub