Amazon · The cut itself
Top sirloin steaks — the US cut closest to alcatra
A specific listing, not a search — check the weight and trim against the guide above before ordering.
Alcatra is known in English as Rump steak.
Buy Top sirloin steaks →
Top sirloin steaks — the US cut closest to alcatra
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission.
Also called
Kintaro, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons — Faux-filet.jpg
The top sirloin / rump primal in Lusophone butchery — a large, versatile block from the hindquarter that yields the picanha (its fat-capped cap) and the maminha (its tender tail), with lean central alcatra steaks in between. Moderately marbled with a firm grain and full flavour, the central alcatra is grilled as thick steaks on the churrasco, roasted whole, or sliced for the pan. In Portugal, alcatra names the same rump region and gives its name to the famous Terceira (Azores) slow-braise, alcatra à moda dos Açores, cooked for hours in a clay pot with wine and spices. Anatomically the top sirloin / rump — sold as tapa de cuadril / cuadril in Argentina and rump in Britain.
Names by country
| Country | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 🇵🇹Portugal | Alcatra | Portuguese name for the same rump region; also the famous Azorean clay-pot braise, alcatra à moda dos Açores. |
| 🇧🇷Brazil | Alcatraprimary | Brazilian top-sirloin/rump primal; parent of picanha and maminha, grilled as thick churrasco steaks. |
What to ask for
Shopping outside the tradition Alcatra comes from?
Source this cut
Select a primal to see its cuts
Get this cut right
$$$ · picanha, steaks, skewers, and general charcoal grilling
Get a real charcoal crust at home
High-heat grilling, simple indirect cooks, steak, picanha, and burgers.
Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch Charcoal Grill
Affiliate links — CarneAtlas may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.See all recommended gear
Want one useful cut guide each week?
Every Thursday: one cut like Alcatra, its names around the world, the best substitute, one dish, and one useful tool.
Free. No password. Unsubscribe anytime.
