The best destinations in Glasgow and Edinburgh to satisfy hungry bellies, so you never have to open that student cookbook.

Edinburgh

Ting Thai Caravan
8–9 Teviot Place
A stone's throw from Bristo Square, Ting Thai Caravan is perfectly located for University of Edinburgh students. The restaurant offers delicious, reasonably priced Thai street food served without frills. It tends to get busy, so be prepared for a wait (only a wee one, though).

Mosque Kitchen
31–33 Nicolson Square
Freshly cooked, generously portioned curries at low prices, served on paper plates with plastic cutlery, keep Mosque Kitchen a busy spot. At the weekend, downstairs opens up as an all-you-can-eat buffet for £10, with proper knives and forks to boot.

Holyrood 9a
9a Holyrood Road
Sometimes, all you want is a good burger with fries, and a pint to wash it all down. Holyrood 9A has got that and then some. There are salads, too, and some excellent vegetarian options. One for fans of pickles on the side.

OX184
184-186 Cowgate
Expect quality burgers, long boys and ribs on the menu in this bar / restaurant, with DJs in the evening and a 3am licence. Food is served until 2.30am, so you can grab a late-night bite before heading home.

The City Café
19 Blair Street
Open bright and early at 9am, the City Café serves big hangover-busting breakfasts, from waffle stacks to the full Scottish. Later on, there are beer pitchers and massive burgers. Those with a voracious appetite can take on the burger challenge.

WildManWood Pizza
27–29 Marshall Street
For those wanting to up their pizza game, Wildmanwood offers wood-fired pizza crafted by staff trained in Naples. A classic margherita in this tasty joint is just £6.60 and the most expensive pizza is still under £10.

Glasgow

Lucky 7 Canteen
166 Bath Street
A chilled-out canteen-style restaurant serving great-value home cooking, craft beer and cocktails on the drinking strip that is Bath Street. If you're making a night of it, Lucky 7 is adjacent to sister club Flat 0/1.

The Vic Café and Bar
20 Scott Street
Very handy if you're at Glasgow School of Art, as it's in the Students' Association. This city-centre kitchen serves up student favourites and more adventurous Asian-inspired cooking, while at night the venue hosts gigs and club nights.

Hillhead Bookclub
17 Vinicombe Street
You totally are studying, you're at a bookclub. This bar and restaurant near Byres Road offers separate meat and vegetarian menus, a strawberry gin mojito for just £3 and DJs five nights a week.

The Raven
81–85 Renfield Street
Bang in the city-centre, the Raven has plenty of space for big groups and a US-inspired menu encompassing burgers, hot dogs, burritos and meat from the smokehouse. Cocktails are cheap, beer is plentiful and live sports are shown on the big screens.

Banana Leaf
76b Old Dumbarton Road
For when only a foot-long dosa will do. Banana Leaf serves up one of the tastiest curries in Glasgow, with authentic South Indian dishes rarely seen on westernised curry menus. It's great value, BYOB, and they also do takeaway.

La Favorita
22–25 Gibson Street
Enjoy wood-fired pizza at this pizzeria and takeaway just round the corner from the University of Glasgow Union. There's a collection special on Wednesdays, an online student discount and a 'bag of balls' as a side dish.