Chinese Restaurant Shut Down After “Roast Duck” Turns Out to be Dead Street Pigeons

A Chinese restaurant in Madrid has been forced to close its doors following a disturbing discovery by authorities: it was allegedly serving roasted street pigeons to unsuspecting customers as duck.

The Jin Gu restaurant, located in the Usera district of the Spanish capital, was raided by police on March 25, leading to the exposure of unsanitary and potentially illegal practices.

Horrifying footage taken inside the establishment by law enforcement revealed appalling conditions. Gnarled strips of unidentified meat were seen hanging from clothes horses, while other clips showed bags filled with soiled meat and bowls containing plucked and cooked street pigeons.

Local media reports further detailed the squalid state of the restaurant. Investigators found eight malfunctioning and rusted freezers packed with unlabeled and undated meat and fish. The kitchen was reportedly infested with cockroaches, and rat traps were scattered across the floor. Basic food safety measures were also absent, with no thermometers to monitor storage temperatures and the cookware described as rusted and unsanitary.

Adding to the severity of the findings, the restaurant was found to be in possession of several prohibited items, including sea cucumbers, a species protected by strict marine conservation laws.

Further investigation uncovered a concealed storage room hidden behind a shelf in the restaurant’s disabled toilet, a space not included in the business’s official license.

As a result of the shocking discoveries, the Jin Gu restaurant has been ordered to cease operations, and its owner is now under investigation for alleged public health offenses.

This incident follows another recent closure of a high-profile London restaurant, Beach Blanket Babylon in Notting Hill, which was frequented by celebrities and even royalty. That establishment was shut down due to a severe infestation of mice and rats, with evidence of food contamination by rodent droppings, poor hygiene practices, inadequate pest control, and a failure to comply with food safety regulations. The operator of Beach Blanket Babylon admitted to serious food hygiene offenses and is awaiting sentencing.

The Madrid case highlights the critical importance of food safety standards and the potential health risks posed by businesses that disregard these regulations. The alleged practice of serving street pigeons as duck represents a severe breach of trust and a significant public health concern.