The South Australian Government will look at ways to overrule Adelaide City Council's decision to limit the number of food vans in the city.

On Tuesday night, the council voted to limit the number of food trucks allowed to operate in Adelaide's CBD to 10 during the day.

Adelaide City Council has been grappling with its food van policy after coming under increasing pressure from "bricks and mortar" businesses who claimed they were doing it tough.

Last week it was revealed a committee had proposed to cut the number of van permits from 40 to 30 and create two categories with five permits each for existing bricks and mortar businesses and entrepreneurs.

Restriction zones near existing businesses have also been established.

Premier Jay Weatherill said he would see if there were any steps the Government could take to overrule the council's decision.

"The Lord Mayor took a proposition to the council and he appears to have been rolled by the full council which is very disappointing," Mr Weatherill said.

"I don't know why the council thinks they have a role in actually backing one business over another in the city.

"I mean this is the sort of innovation that we want to see, that actually creates vibrancy in the city but also leads to bricks and mortar businesses. I mean Burger Theory started off as a food van. It's now got a bricks and mortar business.

"We're going to look carefully on this and see whether there are any steps that the South Australian Government can take."

Deputy Lord Mayor Houssam Abiad told 891 ABC Adelaide the changes should not affect how many trucks set up outside major events.

"The decision yesterday was to allow at any given day outside special events ... only 10 to operate," Cr Abiad said.

"The reason around that decision is very clear. In looking at data over the last couple of years of how many trucks operate on any given day in the city of Adelaide it has never exceeded the number of eight ... outside special events."

He recognised the city's businesses were "doing it tough" but said it was important to encourage innovation.

"We've seen some good examples in the last couple of years as a result of mobile food trucks like the Burger Theory ... like others that were able to start at a lower cost in the city of Adelaide and establish themselves in a premise, employ people, pay taxes and grow their business."