Your flight is early, your mandated arrival time even earlier. No time to eat before you get to the airport, so what to do?

Not so long ago, breakfast was the real challenge of such a day. There were the typical fast-food stands, with their fried this and that, and a few orange-juice-and-bagel joints.

Now Philadelphia International offers real breakfast choices - and real breakfasts. Every food stand has some form of breakfast - even the pizza places and burger flippers, where you'd least expect it.

Here are some prime examples:

• Beka's and CCO's Pizza(side by side in Concourse A): If you're a fan of breakfast pastry, these will offer you a satisfying variety.

• Cibo Bistro & Wine Bar(Concourse B): I never got to sample the breakfast buffet ($10) because on the two mornings I stopped by, the kitchen had not been delivered the ingredients to make it. Suffice it to say, it has eggs, potatoes, muffins and lots more. The menu has many breakfast selections, with fruit, eggs and potatoes.

• Bubba's Baked Goods (Concourse B): A great aroma emanates from this little place - no wonder, given all the sweets. Breakfast in a Box is $5.60 and includes turkey and egg on a croissant or ham, egg and cheese on a roll, both with coffee and fresh fruit.

• Eat at Joe's(Concourse B): There's a great breakfast deal at this burger/hot dog joint - two eggs, two pancakes, bacon and coffee, for $5.39.

• Jet Rock Bar & Grill (Concourses B, C and F): The large breakfast menu offers not only three-egg omelettes, or eggs your way with potatoes, toast and meat ($4.95), but corned beef hash ($5.50), a breakfast burrito with cheese, veggies and salsa ($5.95), pancakes ($6.50), corned beef hash ($5.50), and something called a Philly cheesesteak omelette with home fries ($5.50), essentially a cheesesteak wrapped in three eggs instead of a hoagie roll. I guess if you want a real taste of Philly and it's 6 a.m., this is pretty close.

• T.G.I. Friday's (Terminal between B and C): I decided to pig out, but without the pig. I ordered scrambled egg whites and one of those rectangular hash-brown-potato slabs, and a kids' meal of silver-dollar pancakes, plus iced tea. For about $8.50, I had a satisfying, relaxing breakfast. Extra points here: The hash browns weren't overly greasy.

• Gloria Jean's Coffee (Terminal between B and C): Flavored mocha chillers, pureed fruit chillers, teas and biscuits.

• Philadrink (Food Court between B and C): Baked goods and several different coffees.

• Sky Asian Bistro (Concourse C): The three-egg omelettes are wonderful and filling. One morning I had one with shiitake mushrooms, onions and spinach, for $7, and it included nicely prepared home-fry cubes and toast. When the waitress handed me the bill, which also included an iced tea, she said: "Sir, it's $9.85. That's not bad - not bad for an airport!" Not bad at all, considering the amount of tasty food. • Jazz & Java(Concourse C): Coffees from around the world, with assorted pastries.

• Lamberti's International (Concourse D): You can get eggs many ways and some other goodies. I chose pancakes one morning and, for $4.50, had a nice plate of them.

• Burger King (Concourses D and E): The typical Burger King breakfast is served here.

• Delilah's En Flight(Concourse E): Bagels, bagels, bagels, with all sorts of toppings.

• Bassett's Original Turkey & Salad(Concourse E): It's known for big turkey sandwiches, but Bassett's cooks breakfast to order in its cafeteria line here.