This is the terrifying moment a wild monitor lizard rampaged through a restaurant kitchen.

A group of workers were on a break when they reportedly discovered the predator wandering into the room in Nonthaburi, Thailand.

Footage shows the large reptile frantically attempting to escape as it scrambles onto a dining table on March 3.

It can be seen knocking dishes and other items to the floor while trying to climb out through a window above.

With the window shut, the panicked lizard climbed back down and paced the room in distress.

Staff eventually used sticks and ropes to safely capture it from a distance before releasing it back into the wild.

Asian water monitor lizards normally live in canals, swamps, sewers and ponds in cities in Thailand. They feed on fish, snakes, frogs and scraps of food left by humans.

The reptiles are aggressive when threatened and have a mildly venomous bite which sometimes carries harmful bacteria. The Godzilla-like reptiles are also a protected species in the country so their population thrives.