Less than six months after its grand opening, Elon Musk's Tesla Diner in Hollywood has seen a dramatic decline in customer numbers. The once-bustling eatery, which attracted long queues and hundreds of visitors daily, now appears largely empty, with staff outnumbering diners on a recent Friday afternoon.
The novelty of eating at a restaurant owned by the world's richest person appears to have worn off. The diner, which opened in late July 2025, initially drew crowds of Musk fans and curious onlookers. However, anti-Musk protests, noise complaints from neighbours, and reports of menu items being sold out or served cold have taken their toll.
Chef Eric Greenspan, who helped launch the Mr Beast Burger chain, left the Tesla Diner last month to focus on opening a Jewish deli. He has not publicly stated his reasons for leaving. The departure follows criticism from some California restaurateurs who faced pushback for supporting Musk, a polarising figure who donated nearly $300 million to Donald Trump's election campaign and made gestures at Trump's inauguration that rights groups described as Nazi salutes.
The diner's menu includes fast-food staples such as a £10.50 smash burger (the 'Tesla Giga Burger'), a £6.20 milkshake, and a £9.30 maple-glazed 'Epic Bacon' strip. Tesla claimed in October that it had sold 50,000 burgers since opening, averaging around 700 per day. Musk has suggested expanding the concept to Palo Alto and Austin, but no formal plans have been announced.
Restaurant critics have described the food as forgettable and the concept as a corporate branding exercise. The diner's merchandise includes a 'levitating Cybertruck' figurine for £135 and a hoodie for £74. Social media coverage of the diner has also slowed significantly since its opening.
