CarneAtlas

Arrachera

Beef · Plate
Grill

Arrachera is known in English as Skirt steak.

Arrachera is Mexican skirt steak, usually outside skirt when the butcher makes the distinction.

Also called
🇺🇸🇬🇧Skirt steak🇦🇷🇪🇸Entraña🇫🇷Hampe🇧🇷Entranha🇮🇹Diaframma🇩🇪Kronfleisch
Raw Arrachera — Beef Plate cut

Wikiuser100, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons — Skirt_steak_grilled_arrachera_style.jpg

Skirt steak is the diaphragm muscle, one of the most flavorful cuts on the animal with a pronounced beefy taste and coarse texture. It comes in two versions — inside and outside skirt — with the outside being more tender. It absorbs marinades well and cooks quickly over very high heat. It is the traditional cut for fajitas and tacos.

Names by country

CountryNameNotes
🇺🇸United StatesSkirt steak
🇬🇧United KingdomSkirt steak
🇲🇽MexicoArracheraprimaryAlmost always sold pre-marinated in Mexico, the definitive taco and fajita cut
🇦🇷ArgentinaEntrañaA prized asado cut in Argentina, typically grilled quickly over high heat
🇫🇷FranceHampe
🇪🇸SpainEntraña
🇧🇷BrazilEntranhaAlso fraldinha do diafragma. Fraldão is a different piece.
🇮🇹ItalyDiaframma
🇩🇪GermanyKronfleischInner skirt; 'Saumfleisch' is the outer skirt — both are diaphragm muscles.
What to ask for
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Arrachera

Amazon · The cut itself

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Naming and trim vary by seller — check the listing against the guide above before you order.

Skirt steak (arrachera)

Similar cuts

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Classic recipe

Arrachera Marinada (Mexican Skirt Steak Tacos)10 min

Arrachera is the defining taco de carne asada of northern Mexico — marinated skirt steak, grilled hard over charcoal, an…

Get this cut right

Flavor Fiesta BBQ Box from Grill Masters Club

$49.99 · Ships free in the US · Grill Masters Club

Get the marinade right and arrachera does the rest

  • Fiesta That Mexican seasoning
  • Carnitas grill & wing squeeze
  • Citrus pucker pepper rub
  • Six-recipe booklet and pinch mitts

Flavor Fiesta BBQ Box

Affiliate link — CarneAtlas may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Price checked 31 Aug 2026.

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