EDMONTON—The man believed to have introduced the green onion cake to Edmonton decades ago has opened up a shop with a simple mission: to sell the best version of the snack in the city.

Siu To, 78, opened the doors to his new space, called Green Onion Cake Man, at 118 Ave. and 91 St., this weekend. The cosy space has two tables and a counter with barstools facing the window. The eating space is open to the kitchen, were customers are greeted by To and his wife.

“I hope this will be a little eatery place. Every item we are selling is under $5, but we guarantee quality. Hot from the grill and hot from the stove,” he said.

To said it takes him five minutes to make the cakes, and if he sees too many customers walking in, he will throw a bunch on the stove.

“That’s the only choice they have, right?” he laughed.

Right now, the store sells green onion cakes, and green onion cakes only, and To is banking on his version being hotter and fresher than the competition’s.

“There are so many people making green onion cakes in the market right now … and they all make a big mistake,” he said. “They premake a whole lot of the green onion cake and, waiting for the customers to come, they reheat again.”

Read more: Siu To, 78, is believed to be the man who popularized green onion cakes in Edmonton

His golden brown green onion cakes have a salty, doughy flavour. Each bite is soft, but also flaky, a texture you only get from freshly made cakes.

Green onion cake, an Edmonton staple, is served everywhere from Chinese food restaurants to festival grounds. It resembles a dense pancake filled with green onions.

To made it his mission in life to teach people how to properly make the cakes, which is why he made a video showing the masses how to properly make a green onion cake and held cooking classes.

Best Green Onion Cakes ever!! From Edmonton's favorite Green Onion Cake Man, Siu To.

However, he believes many cooks fall short on delivering the true essence of the snack.

Disappointing, according to To.

He realized he couldn’t convince the masses to change their ways, so he decided to take it upon himself to provide fresh, piping-hot green onion cakes to Edmontonians.

To, along with his wife, opened his store during Kaleido Festival, an annual arts happening that takes place on Alberta Avenue.

A staple at the farmers market, To says his regular customers are very excited about his store.

Because its opening has been a bit of a surprise, the number of customers has been slow and steady, but To prefers it that way.

“We just slowly opened and we tried to gain the experience, to see how the people accept this ... we like it that way, the slow pace, so we can correct lots of things,” he said.

To came to Edmonton from the Chinese port city of Qingdao in 1978 and opened Happy Garden in Parkallen, considered the first restaurant in Edmonton to serve northern Chinese fare.

The cake’s origins were tracked down to To by Salma Kaida, an Edmonton woman who launched a movement five years ago to make them the official dish of Edmonton.

“There was so much about him that was just larger than life that it just kind of gave the whole story a little bit of personality and life,” she told StarMetro in April.

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“He deserves to be up in the Edmonton history books.”

To sells his green onion cakes for $3 each at his shop, which is open Tuesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

When asked why he just focuses on green onion cakes, To said it wasn’t his focus — it was Edmontonians’.

“They love the green onion cakes, so I just satisfy the market,” he said. “So my mission is to supply the green onion cake.”

Correction — Sept. 26, 2018: This article was edited from a previous version that mistakenly said Green Onion Cake Man is at 118 Ave. and 97 St. In fact, the shop is located at 118 Ave. and 91 St.

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