Mito's signature food is nattō — fermented soybeans with a pungent smell and an aggressively sticky texture. Locals eat it for breakfast, often stirred into rice. The Ibaraki version is considered particularly good, and several shops near Mito Station sell premium nattō as a local speciality. If you haven't tried it, Mito is the place to commit.
Beyond nattō, Mito has a reliable selection of sushi restaurants thanks to its proximity to the Pacific coast. Anko (monkfish) is a local winter delicacy — the liver in particular. The dining scene around Mito Station covers everything from ramen and izakaya to more formal Japanese restaurants catering to business travellers.