This is the chaotic moment drunk tourists fought with restaurant staff in front of stalls in Thailand.

Dramatic footage shows several men brawling using chairs, mops, and kitchen utensils in front of the business on the island of Phuket shortly after midnight on March 27.

Police arrived but found only the three employees who worked at the shop.

They were identified as Jordanian national Mohammad Jehad Mohammad Alomari, Egyptian worker Abderahman Mohammad El Fawal, and Wai Lu Soe whose nationality was not reported.

The trio claimed that a group of five drunk foreigners had arrived at the restaurant demanding that they be served kebabs ahead of other customers waiting in queue.

When they refused, citing their first-come, first-serve policy, the holidaymakers allegedly went on a rampage, insulted the employees, and threw bottles at the restaurant staff, sparking the mass punch-up.

The staff retaliated, saying they were merely acting in self-defense as the tourists had attacked them first.

Patong police said they have taken pictures of the restaurant workers in case the tourists filed a report.

They added they are verifying the staff's claims while searching for the tourists who fled.

Police Captain Nattawut Saraithong said: 'This incident is harmful to the image of Phuket as a safedestination for tourists. Officers are investigating who was involved so they can give statements.

'If the tourists are found to have caused the fight they will be fined. We are also checking the paperwork of the people who work at the restaurant.'