The popular “roast duck” dish at a Chinese restaurant in Madrid may not have been what customers thought.
Spanish police uncovered disturbing sanitary violations and suspected animal cruelty during a raid at Jin Gu, located in the Usera district.
Following multiple complaints from residents, officers entered the restaurant in late March and were met with a stench “almost unbearable,” according to El Mundo.
Inside, police found unlabeled meat and fish stored in filthy conditions. Cockroaches infested the kitchen, and hygiene standards were severely lacking. Several freezers contained food with no identification, expiration dates, or traceability, raising questions about the origins of the ingredients being served.
The most shocking discovery was several plucked pigeons allegedly caught on nearby streets. Reports claimed that workers killed the birds by kicking them before preparing them for cooking, suggesting that some “roast duck” dishes may have actually been made from pigeon meat.
Beyond this, authorities found numerous safety and legal violations. Fire extinguishers were misplaced, emergency exits were blocked, and thermometers—required to ensure proper food storage—were missing.
The investigation deepened when officers discovered a secret room hidden behind a shelf in the restroom area. Inside were rusted freezers with more than 300 kilograms of spoiled food, meat hanging from lines to dry, and rat traps baited with raw meat. The entire space was coated in grease and filth.
Authorities shut down Jin Gu immediately. The owner now faces investigation for public health violations, animal cruelty, and consumer fraud.
Local residents said they had long suspected wrongdoing, reporting foul smells and unsanitary food deliveries. “None of us ate there,” one neighbor said. “It always smelled bad.”
Despite the conditions, Jin Gu once held a 4.2-star Google rating—proof that appearances can be deceiving and that food safety oversight remains vital for public health.
