Three people have been injured when a man entered Chinese restaurants in an Auckland street and attacked customers with weapons including an axe, witnesses say.

A police spokesperson said the attacker went into several businesses on Corinthian Drive in Albany at about 9pm on Monday and began hitting customers with a weapon.

The injuries ranged from moderate to serious.

A 24-year-old man was arrested at the scene and was due to appear in the North Shore District Court on Tuesday morning.

He is charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and police said further charges were likely.

Police shift commander Eugene Pickett said the man was arrested nearby without a search.

He said some of the restaurant patrons tried to confront the attacker.

A witness told RNZ she had seen her friend attacked in front of her as they were eating.

They were at Maya Hotpot when a man walked in with something wrapped in cloth, which he unwrapped, and she saw he had an axe, a pole and another item in the bundle.

She said he came at her friend from behind with the axe.

Shortly after, everyone was standing up and someone shouted 'what are you going to do, why are you doing it', before her friend was hit again, she said.

The man was very "calm, patient, slow" as he entered the restaurant, she said.

Her injured friend was taken to hospital.

Photo: RNZ/ Jordan Dunn

A reporter at the scene said at least four police cars attended on Monday night, and one of the officers had told her to keep well away from the shops as there was a lot of blood in the area.

Three restaurants were cordoned off. Spilled soup across a table was visible in one of the premises and items could be seen on the floor.

Photo: RNZ/ Jordan Dunn

The cordoned restaurants include Zhang Liang Malatang, Yue's Dumpling Kitchen, and Maya Hotpot.

Photo: RNZ/ Jordan Dunn

Two people were taken to North Shore Hospital and were in a stable condition on Tuesday morning. A third person was in Auckland Hospital. Their condition has not been released.

Photo: RNZ/ Jordan Dunn

Photo: RNZ/ Jordan Dunn

This story was first published by RNZ