Striploin vs Top Sirloin — What's the Difference?
Quick Answer
Striploin (striploin (strip steak)) and Top Sirloin (top sirloin) are not the same cut: Striploin is loin primal (longissimus dorsi (short loin)); Top Sirloin is sirloin primal (Upper hip, above the sirloin cap (coulotte) and behind the short loin).
Canonical entities: Striploin · Top Sirloin
Side-by-side
| striploin | top sirloin | |
|---|---|---|
| Primal | loin | sirloin |
| Muscle / location | longissimus dorsi (short loin) | Upper hip, above the sirloin cap (coulotte) and behind the short loin |
| Character | Leaner than ribeye; the classic strip steak muscle running along the short loin. | A large, lean cut from the hip section. The top sirloin butt (NAMP 184) is the main muscle group. Versatile — grilled as steaks, roasted whole, or cut into kabobs. Moderate tenderness with good beefy flavor. Not to be confused with sirloin cap (coulotte/picanha) which sits on top of it. |
Key differences
- Different primals: loin vs sirloin.
- 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
Striploin
Pick Striploin when you want its specific marbling/texture profile: Leaner than ribeye; the classic strip steak muscle running along the short loin.
Top Sirloin
Pick Top Sirloin when its primal/muscle traits fit the dish: A large, lean cut from the hip section. The top sirloin butt (NAMP 184) is the main muscle group. Versatile — grilled as steaks, roasted whole, or cut into kabobs. Moderate tenderness with good beefy flavor. Not to be confused with sirloin cap (coulotte/picanha) which sits on top of it.
Striploin and Top Sirloin are different canonical muscles/primals: Striploin is loin (longissimus dorsi (short loin)); Top Sirloin is sirloin (Upper hip, above the sirloin cap (coulotte) and behind the 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: striploin (what-is) · top sirloin (what-is) · striploin hub · top sirloin hub