cutranslator

sirloin primal · United States

top sirloin

In China, this cut is shang nao.

Exact match · Confidence 0.98
Fig. 1 · Upper hip, above the sirloin cap (coulotte) and behind the short loin · sirloin primal

About this cut

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.

Primalsirloin
LocationUpper hip, above the sirloin cap (coulotte) and behind the short loin
In Chinashang nao

How to order steak doneness

rareRareSan fen shu
medium rareMedium rareWu fen shu
mediumMediumQi fen shu
well doneWell doneQuan shu

Doneness terminology varies by country and restaurant. When unsure, describe what you want — e.g., “warm red center” — rather than relying on the name alone.

Detailed explanation

“top sirloin” in United States maps to canonical top sirloin (sirloin: Upper hip, above the sirloin cap (coulotte) and behind the short loin). In China, look for labels such as shang nao. 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.

Keep exploring

Related cuts

Compare with similar cuts

top sirloin in other countries

Show all 97 destinations →

Top sirloin around the world

Show all 65 source countries →

People also ask about this cut

What is top sirloin in China?
top sirloin maps to Top Sirloin (top sirloin) in this ontology; in China, look for labels such as shang nao.

Translate it in another country

What is top sirloin called in China?
In China, top sirloin corresponds to Top Sirloin; common retail wording includes shang nao.

Translate it in another country

Where does top sirloin come from on the cow?
top sirloin refers to top sirloin on the sirloin primal (Upper hip, above the sirloin cap (coulotte) and behind the short loin).

Translate it in another country

Show 7 more questions
What primal is top sirloin from?
Is top sirloin the same as ribeye?
No—top sirloin maps to top sirloin (Top Sirloin), while ribeye is a separate canonical rib primal cut.

Translate it in another country

Is top sirloin the same as Sirloin Cap?
How is top sirloin different from Tri Tip?
top sirloin (Top Sirloin) differs from tri-tip by primal and muscle: compare the two hub pages in this site.

Translate it in another country

What is the canonical beef cut for top sirloin?
top sirloin resolves to Top Sirloin (top sirloin) in the Cutranslator ontology.

Translate it in another country

What should I ask for at a China butcher?
Ask for shang nao and mention Top Sirloin if needed—the mapped retail names above match top sirloin.

Translate it in another country

Why might top sirloin be less common in China?
top sirloin is a United States retail term; China shops may use different names for the same top sirloin muscle.

Translate it in another country

Explore more cuts

How this information is generated

This information is for educational purposes only and may vary by region or butcher practices.