Pearl isn't a single restaurant or institution, but rather a collection of them along the San Antonio Riverwalk. Though the businesses are independent, they all share one common goal: to teach San Antonians to love food. That typically involves partnering with local farmers and producers to gather fresh ingredients, a practice you can participate in yourself at the weekly Pearl Farmers Market.

Each Saturday and Sunday morning, you can get some face time with the same purveyors who supply the restaurants (and Pearl's Culinary Institute of America) at the farmers market. Grab some fresh produce from Braune Farms, a fourth-generation family-owned farm. Pick up veggies from Kitchen Pride Mushrooms, a farm that spends seven weeks cultivating each mushroom. You can even snack on some locally famous peanut brittle from Ms. Chocolatier. No matter which prepared foods or fresh ingredients you collect at Pearl Farmers Market, you can rest assured that it was produced within a 150-mile radius of the market—that's Pearl's commitment to you.

Pearl Farmers Market
200 E. Grayson Street
San Antonio, TX 78215
(210) 212-7260
atpearl.com/farmers_market
www.yelp.com/biz/pearl-farmers-market-san-antonio

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr YellowGreenFarmersMarket

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Tacos El Piquin worked its way up from a food truck to a taqueria in San Antonio, opening its brick-and-mortar location on Huebner Road in 2012. Regulars say Tacos El Piquin uses fresher and tastier ingredients than other taquerias in the area. The salsa bar here offers plenty of fresh options as well, including pickled red onions and roasted serranos. Popular menu items include the asada and al pastor tacos, the quesadillas, the tostra al pastor, the El Impossible taco, the huarache, and the costra.

Locals say that Tacos El Piquin serves some of San Antonio’s most authentic Mexican cuisine. You’ll often find expatriates from Mexico dining here. Since Tacos El Piquin stays open late, it’s a good option if you want to grab something on the way home from a late night. Tacos El Piquin is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. and Thursdays through Saturdays from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Tacos El Piquin
19211 Huebner Road
San Antonio, TX 78258
(210) 303-4129
www.facebook.com/pages/Tacos-El-Piquin/100148946719669
www.yelp.com/biz/tacos-el-piquin-san-antonio

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/jeffreyww