BURLINGAME — A debate is cooking over whether to allow "mobile restaurants" after the recent emergence of an Indian food truck that has been parking downtown, a previously unprecedented sight in the affluent city.

The appearance of the new Curry up Now food truck in downtown Burlingame, typically near Howard Avenue on weekends, has irked some restaurateurs and business leaders who pay high rents in the area. City officials and police, meanwhile, have begun fielding complaints and investigating the legality and rules surrounding lunch trucks, and they may ask the owner to move to an industrial area near the Bay.

The Kapoors, the family that owns the truck, said they are offering cheaper food than the swankier downtown restaurants and have every right to park where there is the most foot traffic. Patrons are giving the Indian cuisine rave reviews.

While other cities have ordinances regulating food trucks, the issue is new in Burlingame, which has a downtown lined mostly with pricey shops and chain stores. The city's Economic Development Program and attorneys have been researching state safety and health codes in regard to mobile eateries, along with rules enacted in nearby cities.

Officials have yet to discuss publicly whether they want to support the free enterprise interests of the trucks or prevent them from encroaching on local brick-and-mortar businesses. No meetings on the topic have been scheduled, as policymakers await

Opinions on the matter seem split. Patricia Love, the city's economic development specialist, said she has "gotten comments all over the board" in researching the issue.

Inquires from merchants have prompted police to ask the truck to move 500 feet every half-hour, and the owner has been cooperative, Burlingame police Capt. Mike Matteucci said. The truck is fully permitted to operate in the city, he said.

But Chamber of Commerce CEO Georgette Naylor, Downtown Burlingame Business Association President Kevin Osborne and Mayor Ann Keighran said local merchants have been groaning about the truck. Mostly, they said, shops think the truck has swooped in without having to pay the high rents properties fetch near Burlingame and Howard avenues.

Akash Kapoor, who along with Rana Kapoor has been a chief owner of the truck since it launched in late September, said they are not stealing customers from nearby restaurants. He claimed about 20 to 30 percent of their customers travel from dozens of miles away, and bring visitors into other Burlingame shops.

Kapoor said his costs are high. He has to pay employees for cleaning and setup three hours before and after serving food. He has insurance and maintenance costs for his truck and parking fees.

The food seems to be a hit. On the popular review site Yelp, 27 patrons had given the truck an average score of 5 out of 5 stars as of Tuesday.

The Kapoors are savvy enough to use their Web site and Twitter feed to post frequent updates on where the truck will be, typically either in downtown Burlingame, near Oracle in Redwood Shores or on Concar Drive in San Mateo.

Keighran has been talking to business leaders and said they plan to meet with the truck's owners. She said it may make sense to move the truck toward Bayside Park, where there are sports games and a lack of takeout food options.

But Kapoor said that would be tantamount to moving his truck out of the city.

Mike Rosenberg covers San Mateo, Burlingame, Belmont and transportation. Reach him at 650-348-4324.