1 Pour House Melt

The Tenth Street Pour House, 262 S. 10th St., 215-922-5626

The Pour House is more about spicy Cajun and eggy brunch than it is the roll with a hole, but one toasted bagel sandwich stands out—a pile of fresh tomatoes, roasted red peppers and chicken tarragon salad (or tuna, if you prefer) topped with slightly melted provolone. For you vegetarians, there's also the simple yet effective cream cheese, tomato and red onion bagel.

2 Zeke's Smoked Lox Platter

Zeke's Deli, 318 S. Fifth St., 215-922-3142

The lox is not too slimy, and at $11.75, the platter not too pricey -- considering it comes with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, cream cheese, fruit salad and an olive. A lot of Jewish delis make a delicious fish sandwich, but Zeke's has the nicest bagel makers. Keep three bottles of water handy for this salty meal.

3 Pizza Bagel

Izzy & Zoe's, 224 S. 40th St., 215-382-2EAT

Good pizza bagels come to those who wait. This one takes about 15 minutes. At least there's unlimited free pickles—and a ton of toppings. In addition to Izzy's standard mozzarella and tomato sauce or pesto base, you pick two from an unheard-of-in-pizza-bagel-world 22 toppings, including grilled chicken, portobella mushroom and crumbled bleu cheese.

4 Morning Special

Rachel's Nosherei, 19th and Sansom sts., 215-568-9565

This belly-stuffing early bird special—two eggs over easy, melted American cheese, tomatoes and bacon splayed open-faced on toasted bagel halves—should last you well into the evening. You don't get liquidy yolk with any old breakfast sandwich. With a regular flow of old people in and out of this friendly deli, it feels just like grandma's kitchen.

5 Bike Shop Special

Satellite Cafe, 701 S. 50th St., 215-729-1211

Get your two-wheeler fixed next door, then fill up on cheap, yummy vegetarian grub. Satellite's signature combination—cream cheese (vegan or regular), pesto, spinach and roasted red peppers—goes great on a toasted everything bagel. Or for a little bit extra, top your bagel with bruschetta, organic peanut butter or ajvar, a Balkan relish made from red peppers, eggplant and garlic.