The search for restaurants that won't break the bank or leave a hungry and tired uni student's stomach unsatisfied, continues. STEPHANIE CHEN tracks down five trendy, hip eateries where you can eat well for under $20, proving you don't have to sacrifice atmosphere for a delicious and fulfilling meal.

Stokers, 231 Clarendon St, South Melbourne

For a hungry but penny-pinching uni student, Stokers is definitely one to try.

The portions are large and the meals are fairly priced. With perfect marshmallowy chocolate milkshakes, sweet, fruity pancakes and thick juicy Parmas to name a few menu items, it’s a hot spot for a night out with mates. And their unique, pancake chips (the brainchild of the owner Robin and Stoker’s French chef) are worth going for on their own.

Café 51, 51 Buckhurst St, South Melbourne

Café 51 is the ultimate food joint for an interesting but filling feed.

Their menus are filled to the brim with a variety of interesting rolls, salads and drinks but the main attraction is their cheap-as-chips burgers. With large succulent cheeseburgers that drip while you eat, starting at only $5 (I repeat $5), it’s a no-brainer. Venturing into the small cult favourite at peak lunch hour might mean a hefty wait, but it will be worth it.

Mahn Doo, 365 La Trobe St, CBD

For a cultural feast that’s easy on the eyes and taste buds, it is worth going to Mahn Doo. The modern interior design with a Korean twist gives off a cool and relaxed atmosphere. With high quality service, it makes it a nice place to chill out while enjoying some customary Korean food that actually tastes like the genuine thing. The palate is generally not overpowering and it's easy to digest. The bibimbap and rice cake soups were a strong favorite, both with full-bodied and rich flavours, and the dumplings are not to be missed either. Overall a stand-out place in a city crowded with restaurants.

Imperial Hotel, 2-8 Bourke St, CBD

It’s the third-oldest pub in Melbourne, and it’s not hard to see why it’s lasted so long.

The Imperial Hotel maintains a chill atmosphere through the use of dimmed lights and soft, moody music. It’s a great pub to crawl down to with a group of friends (or a date) to have a nice chat. And you can talk while filling up your student belly with a juicy Parma, a variety of decently priced pizzas or the aromatic and very satisfying honey, lamb and rosemary sausages. While the meal prices can vary beyond our $20 budget, it should be noted that they have good deals all the time – on Wednesdays they serve the Parmas for $15. Win.

Lazy Moe’s, 90-94 Warrigal Rd, Oakleigh

The ultimate uni student food hub award goes to Lazy Moe’s, the perfect night out for when you’re too tired, too hungry and too crazy-looking from all that studying. Lazy Moe’s has decent service and a genuine atmosphere that screams no BS. It’s cheap, it’s cheerful and with super-sized portions of richly flavored “comfort food”, what more could you ask for? The palate here is simple – the lasagna is cheesy and drowned in a thick but subtle tomato paste. The risotto is rich and tastes like a classic American chicken and mozzarella pizza. The serving sizes are generally larger than one person can eat – the Rocky Road pancake was sickly sweet and fed three of us easily. The "humorous menu", with little "suggestions" dictating how customer should behave will put a smile on your dial.