In the 1970s, the collapse of one of the largest textile businesses sent shockwaves to many factories causing most to shutter. Such was also the fate of the successful Noh family business. Suddenly, the family found itself strapped for cash. With few options remaining, the parents were forced to immigrate to America to look for work while they left John, their 15 year old son, behind to continue his studies in Korea. 

John’s parents worked all kinds of odd jobs from night shifts at JFK to working at a fish market in Brooklyn. But five years later, they heard news of their Korean neighbors wanting to sell their butcher shop business.  Despite no experience as butchers, the Nohs purchased this shop on a whim in 1986. They waited 7 years to bring John who, finally at the age of 22, joined them in the States. Little did John know that his future would involve working from 6 am to late evening, delivering and cutting meat 7 days a week for his family business side by side with his newly wedded wife.

Today, Han Kook Meat Market is considered the oldest and most successful butcher in Flushing. In the early days of business, many older Korean patrons would shop here to buy what once was a cheap cut of meat including kalbi and oxtail. Others would stop in and ask for discarded bones to make a bone broth stew or to give to their pet dogs. While business has changed significantly with the times, Han Kook Meat Market has proven their long-standing reputation for providing quality meats to the Korean American people of Flushing. 

Established in 1986