Sirloin Cap vs Tendon — What's the Difference?
Quick Answer
Sirloin Cap (sirloin cap) and Tendon (beef tendon) are not the same cut: Sirloin Cap is sirloin primal (top sirloin cap (coulotte)); Tendon is offal primal (Connective tissue at joints — particularly the hock/lower leg).
Canonical entities: Sirloin Cap · Tendon
Side-by-side
| sirloin cap | tendon | |
|---|---|---|
| Primal | sirloin | offal |
| Muscle / location | top sirloin cap (coulotte) | Connective tissue at joints — particularly the hock/lower leg |
| Character | Triangular cap on the top sirloin; prized as picanha in Brazil. | Collagen-rich connective tissue extracted from the leg joints, particularly the Achilles tendon area. Extremely gelatinous when slow-cooked; provides body and sticky texture to braises and soups. Prized in Korean, Vietnamese, and South Asian cuisine for its chew and the richness it adds to broth. |
Key differences
- Different primals: sirloin vs offal.
- 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
Sirloin Cap
Pick Sirloin Cap when you want its specific marbling/texture profile: Triangular cap on the top sirloin; prized as picanha in Brazil.
Tendon
Pick Tendon when its primal/muscle traits fit the dish: Collagen-rich connective tissue extracted from the leg joints, particularly the Achilles tendon area. Extremely gelatinous when slow-cooked; provides body and sticky texture to braises and soups. Prized in Korean, Vietnamese, and South Asian cuisine for its chew and the richness it adds to broth.
Sirloin Cap and Tendon are different canonical muscles/primals: Sirloin Cap is sirloin (top sirloin cap (coulotte)); Tendon is offal (Connective tissue at joints — particularly the hock/lower leg).
Choose based on tenderness, marbling, grain direction, and how you plan to cook (sear vs braise vs slice thin).
Read the full guides: sirloin cap (what-is) · tendon (what-is) · sirloin cap hub · tendon hub