Thai restaurant customers volunteer after realising chef was only person working

Customers at a Thai restaurant were initially annoyed their food was taking so long until they realised what was really happening in the kitchen.

It’s the kind of gesture that will bring you to tears, especially with what’s happening in the world today.

At first, customers of a Thai restaurant in New Zealand were left extremely frustrated and confused not knowing why their food was taking so long.

The Thai Food Huntly eatery was so full, people began forming lines as they eagerly waited for someone to take their order.

It wasn’t until a customer peaked into the kitchen to find just one chef single-handedly running the entire restaurant.

The business had copped a major blow after all the staff, apart front the chef, couldn’t work due to a family emergency.

Management took to social media early in the evening to ask patrons to bear with them because of the lack of staff available for the shift.

“So at the moment, it’s only 1 man for all the jobs,” the restaurant wrote in its apology post on Facebook.

But after spotting the lonely chef, seeing tables fill up and long queues forming, customers couldn’t help but roll up their sleeves and get to work.

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A customer grabs a note pad and pen to wait tables after finding out the chef was the Thai eatery on his own. The moment was captured by another diner, Emily Puhi. Picture: Facebook/EmilyPuhi

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One person grabbed a note pad and pen to take orders which then sparked others to follow suit, washing dishes, clearing tables and taking payments.

Soon things turned from a one-man show, into a fully-functioning restaurant.

Diner Emily Puhi took to Facebook explaining everyone could easily feel the sense of community all around the place.

“Frowns turned to smiles and grumpy waiting turned to patiently waiting. It was beautiful to witness,” she said.

“What an awesome place to live in.”

She told NZ Herald the reaction of the customers was a reflection of the “beautiful” Huntly community spirit.

“I was thinking how will the chef be able to do everything by himself? Luckily someone from the neighbouring store asked if the chef needed help. Before we knew it a couple of others jumped in,” she said.

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On the night, the restaurant apologised on social media, explaining they only had one staff member available to work. Picture: Facebook/ThaiFoodHuntly

“A customer even jumped in to do the dishes. With the permission of the chef, a worker from next door ran the tills to make sure everyone got paid. It was such a beautiful feeling. I was really happy we live in such a great community.”

A spokesperson for Thai Food Huntly told the publication staff and management are thankful to the generous locals who helped the chef through his shift.

“We have such great customers and are proud of our community,” they said, adding, “Someone even stayed to help us close down at the end of the night.”

Many took to Ms Puhi’s post, which has been shared almost 500 times, to praise both the customers and restaurant.

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Hundreds of people flooded social media praising the Huntly community in New Zealand. Picture: Facebook/EmilyPuhi

“Wow that's awesome. Way to go ladies for helping him out,” one person wrote.

“That’s so awesome to see a community help out small business owners, especially when times are hard and your back is up against the wall,” said another.

“Wow !! Amazing people they are. My fav place to eat also,” a third person said.

“The chef did such a great job and our meal was yummy,” wrote a fourth, while another added, “Now THIS is what’s up!!!!!!! Go HUNTLY!!”

Even a staff member jumped on the post to write: “This is amazing to see! On behalf of the staff we apologise for not being able to be there and work.”