A video of three masked men robbing staff and patrons at a Vancouver restaurant at gunpoint has been released by Vancouver police.

The trio burst into the Phoenix Garden Restaurant, located near Nanaimo Street and Broadway, just before 9 p.m. PT on Sept. 12.

In the surveillance video, the men can be seen entering though the back door and surprising staff in the kitchen.

As the cooks duck for cover, one of the intruders can be seen waving a pistol and pointing it at staff and customers, while a second man carries a machete.

As customers tried to hide behind tables, the three robbers broke open the cash drawer and demanded wallets, watches and valuables, before fleeing to a waiting car in a parking lot at the back of the restaurant.

Const. Brian Montague said there were no injuries, but all of those in the restaurant were shaken by the chaotic and frightening incident.

"Acts of violence like this are clearly unacceptable," said Montague.

"Somebody knows who these three men are. We hope they do the right thing and call police before someone gets seriously hurt."

Anyone with information can call Vancouver police at (604) 717-9547 or Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 222-8477.