Aguja norteña is the traditional name in Mexico. Outside that tradition, butchers carry comparable beef cuts under different names — sometimes the same anatomical piece, sometimes a close cousin. The alternatives below are grouped by country so you can match what your local butcher actually carries.
Both come from the chuck primal and are prized as more affordable alternatives to ribeye; aguja norteña is the chuck eye, Denver is the under-blade.
Both are chuck primal steaks; flat iron is from the top blade (infraspinatus) while aguja norteña is from the chuck eye roll
The chuck eye roll is a continuation of the ribeye muscle into the chuck; aguja norteña is often described as a more affordable alternative to ribeye
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