Elon Musk's Tesla Diner: From Hollywood Hotspot to… Ghost Town? What went wrong? Less than six months after its grand opening, the once-buzzing Tesla Diner in Los Angeles feels eerily deserted. Remember the Optimus robot diligently serving popcorn? Or the much-hyped "Epic Bacon" strips, inspired by a carnivore diet? And who could forget those legendary, hours-long lines of hundreds of people snaking around the block? All gone. Even star chef Eric Greenspan has moved on. It's a stark contrast to the electric atmosphere that enveloped this burger-and-fries joint when it first opened its doors in late July. But here's where it gets controversial...
On a pleasant Friday afternoon in December, the Tesla car charging lot was barely half-full. Inside, the diner – which Tesla describes as "retro-futuristic" – saw only a trickle of customers ordering burgers, hotdogs, or browsing the merchandise. The upstairs deck, affectionately known as the "Skypad," was completely empty, save for a couple of employees stringing up holiday lights. In fact, there seemed to be more staff meticulously buffing fingerprints off the chrome walls and emptying trash cans than there were actual patrons. The diner was undeniably spotless. Is that a good thing, though, if nobody's there to make a mess?
The initial novelty of dining at a restaurant owned by the world's richest person appears to have worn off. When the Tesla Diner debuted in the summer, it attracted hordes of Musk's devoted fans and intrigued onlookers. But then came the onsite anti-Musk protests, fueled by his political stances and controversial statements. Imagine trying to enjoy a burger while surrounded by protestors! Add to that the noise complaints from disgruntled neighbors, and customer reports of menu items constantly selling out, or being served soggy and cold when available, and you have a recipe for… well, not success. And this is the part most people miss...
Greenspan, a Le Cordon Bleu graduate who played a key role in launching the MrBeast Burger chain, told the Los Angeles Times just last month that he was leaving the Tesla Diner to focus on opening a Jewish deli called Mish. According to Eater, the chef even went so far as to remove his previous Instagram posts referencing the Tesla Diner, as a newly single person might scrub their ex from their social media. Ouch!
While Greenspan hasn't publicly explained his departure and didn't respond to requests for comment, Tesla also remained silent. Could there be more to the story than meets the eye? It's not unusual for chefs to move on to new projects, but the circumstances surrounding this departure seem… peculiar. The silence from both sides only fuels speculation. What do you think?
Furthermore, Greenspan and other California restaurateurs who publicly praised the Tesla Diner faced backlash for supporting Musk, who is a highly polarizing figure. His donation of nearly $300 million to support Donald Trump's election campaign and his leadership of the so-called "department of government efficiency" (Doge) – which oversaw rapid and arguably haphazard cuts to federal agencies – have drawn considerable criticism. During a speech at Trump's inauguration, Musk allegedly made what rights groups have described as back-to-back Nazi salutes, a gesture frequently depicted on the picket signs held by Tesla Diner protesters. Could the political baggage have been too heavy for the diner to bear?
Musk had been envisioning a 50s-style Tesla diner in LA since at least 2018, planning it as an amenity for drivers waiting at Supercharger stations. In 2023, he described the concept as "Grease meets The Jetsons with Supercharging" and promised a launch later that year. When it finally opened in the summer of 2025, he hailed it as "one of the coolest spots in LA" and vowed to expand the concept to major cities worldwide if it proved successful. So far, there's only one.
"This is a pretty special diner. If you are in the LA area, it’s worth visiting," Musk proclaimed during Tesla's second-quarter earnings call, just two days after the diner's grand opening. "It’s a shining beacon of hope in an otherwise bleak urban landscape." Bold claim, right?
While the diner received significant media attention upon its launch, restaurant critics offered less-than-stellar reviews, describing the food as unremarkable and the entire concept as little more than a corporate branding exercise. The menu consisted of fast-food staples such as the $13.50 "Tesla Giga Burger" and an $8 milkshake, along with internet-inspired items like the $12 maple-glazed "Epic Bacon" strips and a small $8 "Wagyu Beef Chili Cup." A display case showcased Tesla merchandise, including a $175 "levitating Cybertruck" figurine and a $95 black hoodie featuring a graphic of the diner. Overpriced, perhaps?
In October, Tesla proudly announced on X (formerly Twitter) that it had sold 50,000 burgers since the diner's opening – averaging just over 700 per day. Musk declared the diner a success and hinted at opening similar locations near Tesla offices in Palo Alto and Austin. However, no formal expansion plans have been announced to date.
The initial surge of food influencers creating TikTok and Instagram videos about the diner has significantly slowed down in recent months. Reviews of the $13 hotdog or photos taken next to the giant drive-in screens playing Star Trek are now relatively rare. Musk, known for his frequent X posts, has only made fleeting mentions of the diner on the platform and didn't address it during Tesla's third-quarter earnings call in October.
The diner seems to be shifting its focus towards hosting events, including a "Holiday Bash on The Skypad" in mid-December, offering unlimited Tesla food and beverages, along with a live DJ, for $75 per ticket. A sign that the restaurant business wasn't working out as planned?
Interestingly, as the diner has scaled back its ambitions, some customer complaints have subsided. The streamlined menu is now fully stocked, and food was reportedly served hot and quickly on a recent Friday in December. One enthusiastic Yelp reviewer even praised her Saturday night visit, stating that "the burger was solid and the fries were perfectly crispy." She added, "Best part was that it wasn’t crowded at all." So, is the Tesla Diner a cautionary tale of hype versus reality? A victim of its owner's controversial image? Or simply a restaurant that needs to find its niche? What are your thoughts? Do you think it can make a comeback, or is it destined to become a footnote in the history of celebrity-owned eateries?
