The search continues for two gunmen who opened fire in a Vancouver restaurant, killing two people and wounding six in what police say is one of the worst mass shootings in the city's history.

Police believe the shooting, which occurred at the Fortune Happiness Restaurant at 654 East Broadway just west of Fraser Street on Thursday, was a targeted hit and not a random attack.

Police and forensic investigators quickly arrived at the scene of the shooting at the Fortune Happiness Restaurant in East Vancouver.
(Brett Ballah/CBC)

Two of the slain men, aged 19 and 26 and of Asian descent, were known to police.

Deputy Chief Bob Rich said the attack at the East Vancouver restaurant appears to be gang violence, but added it's too soon to say for sure.

Police said two masked men walked into the restaurant and opened fire at about 4:30 a.m. PT.

Two men are dead and six people are in hospital with bullet wounds after an early-morning shooting at a restaurant.
(CBC)

Those shot, four men and four women, were all sitting at the same table, police said.

One of the six wounded people is in critical condition. Police aren't saying whether any of the victims have co-operated in the investigation.

The two unidentified shooters fled through the restaurant's back door and are still at large.

Police said the gunfire was intense: 9-mm and .40-calibre shell casings littered the floor, and tables and chairs were flipped over inside the restaurant.

About half a dozen other people were in the restaurant at the time. They were taken to the police station for questioning as witnesses, as forensic and homicide experts investigated the scene.

"Obviously, this is one of the most heinous ones that we've come across," Rich said. "It fits with the proliferation of these kinds of weapons in our city. We have had shootings in restaurants like this a couple of other times, but not one where I can remember as many people were hit. This is one of the worst shootings we've had in Vancouver."

Police would not comment on the type of weapons used, but said semi-automatic and other weapons are becoming increasingly common in gang activity in Vancouver.

Police would not say whether there was a security video at the restaurant.

CBC News has learned the restaurant had been closed down for serving alcohol after hours in 2006, and for chopping fish on a plywood cutting board and other sanitary concerns.

Police said they were called to the restaurant two or three years ago following a stabbing on the sidewalk outside, but they don't believe the incidents are related.

Local residents described the restaurant to CBC as "dodgy" and "not a family place for sure." But police said the neighbourhood is safe.