n a bizarre turn of events that has left diners horrified and authorities stunned, a Chinese restaurant has been shut down after it was discovered that their signature “roasted duck” dish was, in fact, made from street pigeons.
The investigation began when a suspicious diner noticed something “off” about the texture and size of the so-called duck. After snapping a photo and sharing it online, the post quickly went viral — prompting local health authorities to launch an immediate inspection.
Officials were shocked to find that the restaurant had been sourcing birds not from reputable suppliers, but directly from city streets — pigeons included. Health inspectors discovered evidence of makeshift cleaning stations and freezer compartments stuffed with what one official described as “a disturbing number of beady-eyed birds.”
“We thought it was a prank at first,” said Health and Safety Officer Darren Mills. “But once we saw the prep area and the number of feathers… it was clear this wasn’t your average kitchen mishap.”
The restaurant owner initially denied the allegations, claiming the pigeons were “a rare, urban variety of duck.” However, DNA testing confirmed the birds were in fact Columba livia — common street pigeons.
Customers were understandably outraged.
“I’ve been eating there for months,” said one regular. “I thought the duck tasted a bit gamey, but I just assumed it was some kind of regional seasoning. Turns out it was just downtown disease duck.”
The restaurant has since been shut down indefinitely, and the owner faces potential charges for food safety violations and fraud.
Meanwhile, internet users have dubbed the incident “Pigeon-Gate,” with memes and jokes spreading across social media faster than the birds themselves.
