Less than half a year after its grand opening, the buzz surrounding Elon Musk's Tesla Diner in Los Angeles has dramatically faded. The once-packed, novelty eatery now operates with a fraction of its initial crowd, marking a stark contrast to its blockbuster launch in the summer of 2025.
From Epic Queues to Empty Seats
When the Tesla Diner first opened its doors in late July, it became an instant spectacle. Fans of the billionaire CEO and curious onlookers formed hours-long queues, sometimes stretching a hundred people long around the block, all eager to experience the "retro-futuristic" venue. The attraction featured an Optimus robot serving popcorn and menu items like the "Epic Bacon" strips, inspired by Musk's much-discussed carnivore diet.
By a warm Friday afternoon in December, the scene was transformed. The adjacent Tesla Supercharger parking lot was, at best, half full. Inside, only a handful of customers trickled in to order burgers, hotdogs, or merchandise. The upstairs deck, known as the "Skypad," stood completely vacant. Staff members busy cleaning the spotless chrome walls and taking out trash significantly outnumbered the paying guests.
Chef's Exit and Growing Controversies
The diner's decline coincided with several high-profile setbacks. Eric Greenspan, the all-star chef and Le Cordon Bleu graduate hired to helm the kitchen, publicly departed the project in November. He left to focus on opening a Jewish deli called Mish, and reportedly scrubbed references to the Tesla Diner from his Instagram.
Greenspan did not publicly state his reasons for leaving, and neither he nor Tesla responded to requests for comment. His exit followed a wave of negative publicity, including poor reviews from food critics who labelled the fare forgettable and protests outside the diner's doors.
Activists staged demonstrations, such as the 'Tyrant Diner' protest, where inflatable tube men depicting Musk called for a Tesla boycott. Protest signs referenced Musk's polarising political actions, including his $300 million donation to Donald Trump's campaign and his subsequent role leading a rapid overhaul of federal agencies.
A Concept Losing Its Shine
Musk had championed the diner concept since 2018, envisioning it as an amenity for drivers using Tesla Superchargers. He famously described the 2025 launch as "Grease meets The Jetsons with Supercharging" and proclaimed it "one of the coolest spots in LA." He initially vowed to roll out the concept globally if successful.
Despite Musk's claims of success in October—citing 50,000 burgers sold and suggesting future diners in Palo Alto and Austin—the reality on the ground tells a different story. Social media buzz from food influencers has dried up, and Musk himself has mentioned the venture only sparingly on his platform X in recent months.
The diner appears to be pivoting towards hosting ticketed events, like a $75-per-person "Holiday Bash on The Skypad," to draw crowds. Some operational issues, like sold-out menu items and complaints of cold, soggy food, have reportedly been resolved with a pared-down, reliably stocked menu.
While one recent Yelp reviewer praised a "solid" burger and "perfectly crispy" fries on an uncrowded Saturday night, the Tesla Diner's current state is a far cry from the shining beacon of urban hope Musk once promised. For now, the world's only Tesla Diner stands as a testament to the fleeting nature of branded novelty in the competitive Los Angeles food scene.
