Know Your Neighbour: Ryan Lim of Marq’s Chicago Beef
Know Your Neighbour: Ryan Lim
Ryan Lim, co-owner of Marq's Chicago Beef, explains how the classic Italian Chicago staple made it to Toronto and what inspired his family's recipe.
Ryan Lim has been running Marq's Chicago Beef in Market 707 outside Scadding Court Community Centre since 2020.
: RON SANCHEZ/The Green Line.
RON SANCHEZ
Volleyball player and music listener. Frequent volunteer at Scadding Court Community Centre.
September 12, 2024
This video was produced by a youth journalist who participated in The Green Line's Alexandra Park Youth Journalism program in partnership with Scadding Court Community Centre. It's part of the series "Know Your Neighbour," which profiles the people and places important to community members in Alexandra Park, Kensington Market and Chinatown.
You don’t need to travel to Chicago for the city's iconic Italian beef sandwiches — Marq’s Chicago Beef in Alexandra Park has got you covered.
The small stall in the southern end of Market 707 outside of Scadding Court Community Centre was co-founded by Marq and Ryan Lim. Ryan says the brothers frequently travelled to Chicago to visit their uncle — “a huge foodie” — who introduced them to one of their favourite foods, Italian beef sandwiches. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Lims decided to bring their own version of the Chicago staple to Toronto.
The beef sandwich recipe they now use was created by Marq, who was inspired by many of their favourite spots in Chicago. One essential component and personal touch he added, however, was dipping the sandwich into the broth where the beef was cooked to pack in more flavour.
Although the Lim brothers would like to expand their food stall eventually, they enjoy being part of the tight-knit community in Alexandra Park.
“People in the community and people in the neighbourhood just stop by because we're friendly neighbourhood faces,” Ryan says, jokingly adding, “We will die for our customers."
“I know it sounds a bit extreme, but we will do anything for our regular customers.”
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