Beef Cuts: Korean vs American
I recently bought some brisket from an American grocery store. But when I brought it home and cooked it, it looked and tasted different from the Yangjimeori (양지머리 – also labeled “brisket”) that I usually buy from the Korean supermarket. And this is not the first time– it has happened to me many times before and always wondered why. I had a feeling that maybe the two beef cuts were not from the same part of the brisket. And so I started my quest for the truth..
I have researched for hours on end trying to figure out how Korean beef cut and US beef cut correspond to each other. OK, yes, they use quite different primal cuts (primal cuts are largest units of cuts that is further divided into individual retail cuts that are sold at stores) – and that’s fine. But what confused me terribly were the English cut terms used in Korean documents (I figured out eventually – after much frustration- that the terms used in Korea are mostly Australian and Canadian terms. Probably because US beef import was banned from 2003-2008 ). What was also frustrating was even within the US, the cut diagrams and names were not always the same.
Anyway, here is the diagram that I used for the US retail beef cuts:
BTW, if you want to know more about Korean vs US pork cuts, read more at my Know Your Pork Cut!! post.
Did you know that the US beef cuts are usually around 22, French and English cuts are 35 and the Koreans beef cuts can go up to a staggering 120? However, the most popular cuts used today in Korea cooking is 50 including almost all the organs, head and tail. During the Joseon dynasty, Koreans enjoyed beef a lot and the term “one head with 100 tastes (일두백미)” came about. It referred to the fact that one cow can be cut to create 100 different tastes. Before Korean started to import beef, beef was always very expensive and this is probably why every part of the cow was utilized in Korean cooking.
Americans love steak, therefore, many primal cuts of beef are cut into cross sectional thick pieces to produce all different tender cuts of the steak. After that, bigger chunks used whole as roasts (for BBQ) or cut into cubes for stews or kabobs. Finally, any miscellaneous, not-so-tender meats are usually gathered together to make ground beef.
Koreans love soups and grilled meats. So any tough meat–including tendons and bones–are boiled in soups (탕 tang) or cut into very thin slices against the grain (sometimes paper thin as in chadolbaeki/chadolbaegi (차돌백이) and grilled (usually unseasoned). More tender meats are sliced a little thicker and marinated to make bulgogi. The very tender meats are cut even thicker and grilled, unseasoned. Ribs are cut thin (as in LA Kalbi) or fanned out, marinated and grilled as Korean BBQ Kalbi or braised/boiled.
The table below lists the most widely used Korean cuts grouped under US primal cuts along with their corresponding US cuts. Chances are, you probably won’t need half of the cuts I listed here but I wanted to make the table somewhat complete – yeah, it’s an obsession I have…This list will definitely come in handy if you ever visit a legitimate Korean BBQ restaurant that serves a whole slew of different cuts of meat for grilling – each with a different texture and flavor.
In addition, I also discuss which beef cuts work best for of each method of Korean cooking.
Soups(국 Guk or 탕 Tang)
- chuck meat (kkurisal 꾸리살, jaebichuri 재비추리) for stock, plain meat soup
- ribs (kalbi 갈비) for Kalbitang(갈비탕)
- brisket(yangjimeori 양지머리) for Yukejang(육계장), Jangjorim (장조림), Dduk Guk(떡국)
- shank (sahtae 사태)
- knuckle (doekanisal 도가니살) for Doekanitang (도가니탕)
Tip : start with cold water and meat, bring to boil and simmer until meat is very tender. Add onions, green onions for additional flavor.
Stew/Hotpot (찌게 Jjigae/전골 Jeongol)
- neck meat(mokshim 목심)
- brisket(yangjimeori 양지머리)
- foreshank(apsahtae 앞사태)
Tip: Usually cut into small thin bite size pieces. Always cut against the grain.
Grilling (구이 Gui)
grill recommended:
- tenderloin(ahnshim 안심)
- rib eye(deungshim등심)
- strip loin(chaekkeut 채끝)
- outside skirt(ahnchangsal 안창살)
- under blade steak/roast(salchisal 살치살)
- brisket(chadolbaegi 차돌백이)
grill and marinated bulgogi recommended:
- neck meat (mokshim 목심)
- boneless top, bottom round(wudun 우둔, seolkisal 설기살)
- chuck tender (kurisal 꾸리살)
- blade steak (buchaesal 부채살)
Tip: The more tender meats are sliced and then grilled, unseasoned. The more tougher meats are best marinated and grilled as bulgogi.
Braised (Jjim 찜, Jorim 조림)
- short ribs (kalbi 갈비) for Kalbijjim 갈비찜
- shank (sahtae 사태)
- boneless top, bottom round(wudun 우둔, seolkisal 설기살)
Tip: Meats are first cooked slightly and then well seasoned, simmered in sauce until reduced, for a long time making the meat fully tender.
Boiled Meat (Suyuk 수육, Pyeonyuk 편육)
- brisket (yangjimeori 양지머리)
- shank (sahtae 사태)
Tip: To keep the flavor within the meat, cook in boiling water. Use any or all of green onion roots, peppercorns, garlic, onion and rice wine for smoother taste. Slice against grain – see my Gogiguk post. BTW, suyuk is meat that is simply boiled and served in slices and Pyeonyuk is suyuk with fat and water squeezed out by further pressing with heavy weights to wring out any fat or water from the cooked meat.
Steak tartar (Yukhwe 육회)
- shank (sahtae 사태)
- flank steak (chimasal 치마살)
- chuck tender (kkurisal 꾸리살)
- boneless top, bottom round(wudun 우둔)
Jerkey (Yukpo 육포)
- boneless top, bottom round(wudun 우둔)
- eye of round (hongdukkaesal 홍두깨살)
| PRIMAL CUT |
Korean |
US |
| Chuck | Deungshim (등심) | Chuck+rib eye roll |
| Mokshim (목심) | Neck meat | |
| Jaebichuri (제비추리) | Neck chain | |
| Kkurisal (꾸리살) | Chuck tender/mock tender | |
| Buchaesal (부채살) | Blade roast/steak or Flat Iron Steak | |
| Salchisal (살치살) | Under blade pot roast/chuck flap | |
| Kalbi (갈비) | Short ribs: #1-#5 | |
| Rib | Kkotdeunshim (꽃등심) | Rib eye roast/steak |
| Kkotkalbi (꽃갈비) | Ribs: #6-#8 | |
| Deung(cham)kalbi (등(참) 갈비) | Back ribs: #9-#13 | |
| Short Loin | Chaekkeut (채끝) | Top loin, strip loin |
| Ahnshim (안심) | Tenderloin | |
| Sirloin | Boseopsal (보섭살) | Top sirloin (rump/butt) |
| Samgaksal (삼각살) | Tri tip | |
| Brisket | Yangjimeori (양지머리) | Brisket (flat cut/flat half/first cut) |
| Chadolbaegi (차돌박이) | Brisket (point cut/point half/second cut) | |
| Plate | Upjinsal (업진살) | Short plate/skirt steak |
| Upjinahnsal (업진안살) | Inside skirt | |
| Ahnchangsal (안창살) | Outside skirt | |
| Flank | Chimahsal (치마살) | Flank steak |
| Shank | Sahtae (사태) | Shank |
| Apsahtae (앞사태) | Foreshank | |
| Dwitsahtae (뒷사태) | Hindshank | |
| Ahrongsaetae (아롱사태) | Digital muscle | |
| Round | Wudun (우둔) | Boneless rump roast, top round |
| Hongdukkaesal (홍두깨살) | Eye of round | |
| Seolkisal (설기살) | Bottom round | |
| Doekanisal(도가니살) | Meat that surrounds the upper hind leg bone AKA knuckle |
Whew..I almost gave up on this one…Writing this post was even more exhausting than my kimchi post. Hopefully, it’s helpful. Also, the list does not include any of the misc parts such as head, tongue, feet, tail, stomach and other organs because that’s a whole different post.
Well.. now you know!
PS – If you want to know more about Korean Pork Cuts – check out Know your pork cut!!
Life saver. Thank you so much.
You are very welcome!! Glad you found it useful. Thanks for stopping by~
Thank you for appreciating the post. I am actually working on the pork cut post right now. Hopefully you will find that useful also. Take care~
Wow! Thanks for all the information…I’m ready to hit H-Mart 🙂 Perhaps you can shed some light for me. I’m looking for the beef equivalent of what in pork is the belly…the cut used for bacon. In beef, it’s sometimes called ‘belly’ but more often referred to as plate or short plate. Is this Upjinsal (업진살) ? Above you have that translated to short plate/skirt steak…which is throwing me off a bit because (at least as far as I know) those are two different cuts from the same area,
Yes 업진살 is indeed the belly part. I have had bbq of that meat part in korea and its reaally good! Thanks!
Hello, I just stumbled upon your blog and this article is very thorough and helpful. I just have a basic question. If I just want the cheaper cuts of meat due to a limited budget (I love to use the slow cooker which can make just about anything soft and tender)…what would I ask for? I don’t want organs or unusual parts of the cow, cartilage, bones, etc., but I don’t need the prime cuts. What would you advise? Thank you! ~Angie in Gimpo
Hello Angie! So glad you found my blog! For cheaper cuts of meat, you can buy cuts from the Shank or Round area. Among the cuts I have for Jjim, Jorim and Suyuk – Sahtae (shank) , Wodun(top round) and Seolkisal(bottom round) are inexpensive but also works great for slow cooking. Ask to see these cuts and choose ones that look good to you. Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any more questions. Thanks!
Thanks. This has been very helpful.
Have you tried the short ribs from Costco? It’s not as tender as the kind sold at the Korean markets. Are they from different parts of the rib?
Hi.I’m glad it was helpful. I assume you are referring to the *boneless* short ribs from Costco? Yes,I have had them. I’m pretty sure they are actually not from the ribs. Probably chuck/shoulders..because they have way less fat and yes, you are right, not as tender as the ribs sold at Korean markets. Costco “rib” meat are good for Kalbijim (stewed for a long time) or should be marinated for a long time with some tenderizers and cut across the grain into thinner pieces if you are going to BBQ them. Thanks for stopping by!
Well, I’m duly impressed. Your research and knowledge is most impressive. My “littleKorean” is in the Korean Bar-B-Que Restaurant business and she knows beef. In fact several Korean Bar-B-Que Restaurants have come to her to help set them up. This site is now permanemtly locked away in my “Recipe” file along with family secret recipes I was able to get my Mom to write down before she passed away. I’ll keep watching for your blogs to become more knowledgeable in Korean Cooking. I’m even sending this on to a friend who is addicted to Kim Chi and Korean dishes. My wife taught me when first we met that the key to Korean Cooking is the eyes. The redder the paste, soup, marinade the hotter it is. Truer Words Were Never Spoken in Englis or Korean.
Why..thank you Phillip! The beef post really took me days to finish.. and I have to say that I am still not 100% satisfied with the result but it was the best I could do. I would have loved to meet your wife and ask her all about beef. Thanks again for passing my blog to your friend.