A friendly deer wanders from the zoo to visit a nearby restaurant to feed on grass.

The spotted deer, otherwise known as chital deer, amazed cooks and customers with its approachable demeanour in Chonburi province, Thailand.

Footage shows the chital, affectionately named Pongpang, munching on weeds, giving the eatery a free garden trim on June 3. It was so accustomed to people that it entered the kitchen to greet everyone and have its back rubbed.

Pongpang would then return to Khao Kheow Open Zoo which served at its home after snacking on grass.

The restaurant owner, Pick, said: ‘I named it Pongpang. It was very friendly and lovable.'

She added that Pongpang had brought some of its friends over, but they were not as kind to strangers.

Pick said: ‘Pongpang was very sweet. I felt like a mother, and it was my child. I enjoy its frequent visits to my shop and my customers feel the same way.'

Deers are prey animals, so they tend to be wary and keep their distance from potential threats like humans. Their extremely keen senses of smell, hearing, and vision allow them to detect humans from far away, prompting them to retreat before letting humans get too close.