Inferno tears through Toowoomba restaurant

Police say it's amazing no one was injured after a massive fire tore through an eatery west of Brisbane, causing dozens of nearby residents to flee and damaging neighbouring buildings.

More than 50 firefighters battled for three hours to contain the blaze at Amigo's Bar & Grill in Toowoomba's CBD, which began in the kitchen after 11pm on Tuesday.

Police declared an emergency situation and closed surrounding streets.

Around 90 people were forced to evacuate from an apartment building next door.

Witnesses described the chaos caused by the blaze.

"Flames just burst out of the roof and it all collapsed and you could hear all explosions inside," one man told the Seven Network.

"It blew me away, like, wow," said a woman.

Toowoomba Police Inspector Sharee Cumming praised the efforts of firefighters.

"No one was injured, amazingly. Fire and emergency services have done an exemplary job and been able to contain the fire," she told the Seven Network.

A crime scene has been established as investigators work to determine the cause of the blaze.