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A police inspection of a Chinese restaurant revealed that patrons ordering its “roast duck” specialty may have been consuming something completely different.
Located in Madrid’s Usera neighborhood, Jin Gu underwent a police search in late March following multiple complaints, resulting in its closure for numerous health code violations.
Investigators discovered a kitchen infested with cockroaches and unlabeled meat and seafood products. The odor was so repulsive that one Madrid Municipal Police officer remarked to El Mundo news outlet: “The smell of decomposing seafood permeated everything; it was nearly intolerable.”
Officers found plucked pigeons that, according to El Mundo reports, restaurant employees allegedly captured from city streets and fatally kicked. The establishment contained eight freezers with unmarked food items lacking expiration dates, making their origin impossible to trace.
The restaurant also failed to properly store fire extinguishers, which were positioned below required heights, while emergency exits were blocked by garbage containers. The facility lacked legally mandated thermometers in storage areas for temperature monitoring.
Even more concerning discoveries awaited beyond the main premises. Authorities uncovered a concealed chamber behind a shelf in the accessible restroom that wasn’t included in building plans. This hidden space reportedly contained approximately 300kg of spoiled food in corroded freezers.
Officers observed meat strips hanging from clotheslines to dry, rat traps baited with meat, and a cooking fan covered in grease accumulation.
These findings led to the establishment’s immediate shutdown. Jin Gu’s owner now faces investigation for potential crimes involving animal cruelty, public health violations, and consumer rights infringements.
Area residents claim they had repeatedly reported concerns about the restaurant to authorities. One neighbor told Spanish media: “Nobody from around here ate there. There was a foul odor, and we witnessed food deliveries left by the entrance in full daylight using a cart.”
Surprisingly, the establishment maintained a 4.2-star Google rating, though one reviewer had noted issues with the “roast duck” five years earlier, writing: “The duck seems somewhat dry with excessive bones and lacks flavor.”