A Madrid eatery has been permanently closed after authorities uncovered a shocking deception involving the preparation and sale of street pigeons as roasted duck.
The Jin Gu restaurant, situated in the Usera district, was subjected to a police raid on March 25th following numerous complaints from patrons who experienced illness after dining there.
The subsequent investigation revealed a series of disturbing practices. Police discovered bowls filled with plucked and cooked pigeons presented as traditional roast duck. Video footage captured within the restaurant depicted unsettling scenes, including strips of meat hanging in unsanitary conditions from makeshift racks.
Further inspection uncovered alarming sanitation issues:
- Approximately 300 kilograms of rotting food were found stored in a back room.
- Eight freezers, exhibiting significant rust and malfunction, contained unlabeled and undated meat and fish.
- A pervasive cockroach infestation was noted throughout the kitchen area, accompanied by numerous rat traps scattered across the floor.
- The absence of thermometers to monitor storage temperatures compounded the safety concerns.
- Cookware was extensively rusted and demonstrably unsanitary.
Investigators also uncovered a concealed storage room deliberately hidden behind a shelf in the restaurant’s disabled toilet—a space not included on the business’s official license.
Beyond the food safety violations, officials identified additional deficiencies:
- Fire extinguishers were improperly positioned, failing to meet minimum height requirements.
- Emergency exits were obstructed by refuse bins, creating hazardous conditions.
According to reports in El Mundo, staff members are suspected of capturing pigeons directly from the streets and reportedly causing their deaths before preparation.
“The odor was overwhelming—a strong stench of decaying seafood; it was almost unbearable,” one officer recounted to local media.
The restaurant was also found to be in possession of protected sea cucumbers, violating strict marine conservation laws. Over a ton of products were stored without adequate temperature control or any assurance of safety.
Despite the closure order, a sign written in Chinese outside the Jin Gu restaurant still claims it is temporarily closed for a holiday. The word “dirty” has been scrawled alongside this notice.
Neighbors residing within the same building as the restaurant reported repeated prior complaints to law enforcement. “We never ate there,” one resident told El Mundo. “It smelled awful, and we witnessed food being delivered on carts and left outside in plain sight.”
The Jin Gu restaurant previously maintained a 4.2-star rating on Google, with numerous positive reviews from unsuspecting customers. One review from five years prior commented: “The duck I think is a little dry and lots of bones, not that tasty.”
The owner now faces investigation for alleged violations concerning public health, wildlife protection laws, and consumer rights.
