Sirloin Tip vs Top Round Steak — What's the Difference?
Quick Answer
Sirloin Tip (sirloin tip (knuckle)) and Top Round Steak (top round steak) are not the same cut: Sirloin Tip is round primal (Front of the rear leg, between sirloin and round); Top Round Steak is round primal (Steak cut from the inside round / top round).
Canonical entities: Sirloin Tip · Top Round Steak
Side-by-side
| sirloin tip | top round steak | |
|---|---|---|
| Primal | round | round |
| Muscle / location | Front of the rear leg, between sirloin and round | Steak cut from the inside round / top round |
| Character | Also called the knuckle. A lean, moderately tender cut from the front of the round, near the sirloin. Used for roasts, kabobs, and stir-fry. Not from the sirloin despite the name. | A lean, affordable steak cut from the inside round. Often marketed as 'London Broil' in US supermarkets, though London broil is technically a preparation method, not a cut. Best when marinated, grilled to medium-rare, and sliced very thin against the grain. Overcooking makes it tough and dry. |
Key differences
- 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 Tip
Pick Sirloin Tip when you want its specific marbling/texture profile: Also called the knuckle. A lean, moderately tender cut from the front of the round, near the sirloin. Used for roasts, kabobs, and stir-fry. Not from the sirloin despite the name.
Top Round Steak
Pick Top Round Steak when its primal/muscle traits fit the dish: A lean, affordable steak cut from the inside round. Often marketed as 'London Broil' in US supermarkets, though London broil is technically a preparation method, not a cut. Best when marinated, grilled to medium-rare, and sliced very thin against the grain. Overcooking makes it tough and dry.
Sirloin Tip and Top Round Steak are different canonical muscles/primals: Sirloin Tip is round (Front of the rear leg, between sirloin and round); Top Round Steak is round (Steak cut from the inside round / top round).
Choose based on tenderness, marbling, grain direction, and how you plan to cook (sear vs braise vs slice thin).
Read the full guides: sirloin tip (what-is) · top round steak (what-is) · sirloin tip hub · top round steak hub