Can pecho mean more than one cut?

Check the confidence note below; low confidence or multi-cut rows are flagged when present.

How do you order steak doneness in Costa Rica?

In Costa Rica, medium rare is called "Término medio". Rare is "Rojo" and well done is "Bien cocido".

What should I ask for at a butcher in Costa Rica?

Ask for "Cecina entera para ahumar, con gordito" when looking for pecho in Costa Rica.

What is pecho in Costa Rica?

Q: What is pecho in Costa Rica?

pecho is the El Salvador retail name for the brisket, which sits on the brisket primal. In Costa Rica, the same cut is most often labeled cecina.

Q: What is pecho called in Costa Rica?

Look for cecina—mapped to Brisket (brisket).

Q: What primal is pecho from?

Brisket is on the brisket primal (Breast / lower chest, between the forelegs).

Close match

pecho

is very similar to cecina in Costa Rica

Ask for: cecina

About this cut

From the breast and lower chest. Two sub-sections: the flat (lean, uniform) and the point/deckle (fattier, more marbled). The most iconic cut for American BBQ smoking. Also used for braising, corned beef, and pastrami.

brisket primal · Breast / lower chest, between the forelegs

In Costa Rica

cecina

Say this at the butcher

“Cecina entera para ahumar, con gordito”

'Whole cecina (brisket) for smoking, with the fat' — for US-style BBQ

What is this cut?·Global guide

How to order steak doneness

El Salvador → Costa Rica

rareRojo→Rojo48–55°C

medium rareTérmino medio→Término medio55–60°C

mediumTres cuartos→Tres cuartos60–65°C

well doneBien cocida→Bien cocido70–100°C

Traditional 'Tico' cooking leans Well Done. Churrascarías serve Término Medio as standard for premium cuts like Punta de Solomo.

Doneness terminology varies by country and restaurant. When unsure, describe what you want (e.g., “warm red center”).

Detailed explanation

“pecho” in El Salvador maps to canonical brisket (brisket: Breast / lower chest, between the forelegs). In Costa Rica, look for labels such as cecina. From the breast and lower chest. Two sub-sections: the flat (lean, uniform) and the point/deckle (fattier, more marbled). The most iconic cut for American BBQ smoking. Also used for braising, corned beef, and pastrami.

Keep exploring

Compare with similar cuts

Other countries & routes

Same canonical cut, different destination markets (deduped URLs).

Explore more cuts

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