Flanken, Beef Short Ribs and Beef Spare Ribs are all actually the same piece of meat. The difference is simply in how it is cut. As terminology can vary between shops, we offer the following primer as we specify them at Fischer Bros. :) At the right is shown the uncut beef ribs. When cut across the bone into 2” slices it is called “Flanken” shown at left below. When cut along the bone into 1” slices, we call this “Beef Spare Ribs, typically about 6” long. When cut across the bone about 3” thick and then cut again between each bone, we call this “Short Ribs” shown below center. To add to the confusion some customers request “Beef Spare Ribs” cut into shorter serving pieces and may call this “short ribs” :) Note that all these cuts are well marbled, juicy and tender but “lean” flanken is relative. It will usually have more than a bit of fat.