Jin Gu in Madrid Under Investigation Following Police Raid
By James Moorhouse
Warning: This article contains content that some readers may find distressing.
A Chinese restaurant in Madrid has been shut down after an investigation revealed that the ‘roast duck’ being served was actually made from dead street pigeons.
While many adventurous food lovers are open to trying unusual dishes—like Sweden’s infamous surströmming, known for making people gag—sometimes learning how a meal is prepared is enough to ruin your appetite for good.
Now, fans of duck pancakes might find themselves rethinking their favorite dish.
Patrons of the Madrid-based restaurant were left shocked after a disturbing police investigation uncovered the truth about what they had been eating. The restaurant has since been closed, and the owners are currently under investigation.
The Jin Gu restaurant, located in Madrid’s Usera district, was raided by police late last month—and what they uncovered was truly disturbing.
Footage from the scene revealed bowls filled with plucked and cooked pigeons. While wood pigeon is considered a delicacy in some upscale restaurants, street pigeons are a completely different story—you definitely wouldn’t want one scooped up off the pavement and served on your plate.
Even the raw meat and unpasteurized milk-loving gym bros might think twice about that. Maybe.
Footage also revealed twisted strips of meat hanging from clothes horses—an approach that is far from sanitary.
Local media reported that meat and fish, both unlabelled and undated, were allegedly stored in malfunctioning freezers. Police also found cockroaches and rat traps scattered around the kitchen—conditions that might warrant a food hygiene rating in the negatives.
In addition, there were reportedly no thermometers in use to monitor storage temperatures, creating a clear risk of bacterial growth. Authorities also noted that much of the cookware was heavily rusted.
Sea cucumbers, which are banned under strict marine protection laws, were among several illegal items found at the restaurant. The owners are now under investigation, with police considering charges related to public health offenses, animal cruelty, and consumer rights violations.
Street pigeons, of course, can carry numerous diseases—hopefully neutralized during cooking—but given the restaurant’s alleged failings in other areas of food safety, it’s hard to feel confident about that.
