Less than six months after its grand opening, Elon Musk’s Tesla Diner in Los Angeles has seen a sharp decline in popularity. On a recent Friday afternoon, the parking lot was half full, and only a handful of customers were inside the retro-futuristic eatery. The upstairs deck, known as “Skypad”, was empty except for staff decorating for the holidays.
The diner, which initially drew long queues and social media buzz, now faces criticism over food quality and service. Menu items such as the $13.50 “Tesla Giga Burger” and $8 milkshakes have been described as forgettable by restaurant critics. Chef Eric Greenspan, who helped launch the Mr Beast Burger chain, left last month to focus on a Jewish deli called Mish, without publicly explaining his departure.
The venue has also been a focal point for protests against Musk, who donated nearly $300m to Donald Trump’s election campaign and made gestures at Trump’s inauguration that rights groups labelled Nazi salutes. Noise complaints from neighbours and occasional sell-outs of menu items have further dampened the experience.
Musk had touted the diner as “one of the coolest spots in LA” and suggested expansion to Palo Alto and Austin, but no formal plans have been announced. Tesla claimed it sold 50,000 burgers in its first three months, but the wave of food influencers and online reviews has since subsided.
