It was supposed to be a revolution in gastronomy, but it turned out to be a flop. Musk's restaurant is empty
The Tesla Diner restaurant was supposed to be not only a place for fans of the brand, but also Elon Musk's showcase and a new trend in gastronomy. In less than half a year, the place became a “ghost restaurant” that is empty.
See also: Tesla loses to the Chinese BYD. Elon Musk argued with Donald Trump about this
As we wrote in September last year, the Tesla Diner, which opened in July in Los Angeles, somewhat resembles the buildings from the cult cartoon “The Jetsons”.
Robots served popcorn to customers at the Tesla Diner
|
PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP/East News / East News
The premises are a two-story restaurant, electric vehicle charging station, drive-in cinema and merchandise store in one.
In the first weeks of the restaurant's operation, the Optimus robot served popcorn, and Tesla fan clubs regularly organized meetings at the bar.
The text continues below the video
The restaurant received enormous media attention upon opening, but received poor reviews from food critics, who described the food as unremarkable and the concept as little more than a company branding exercise.
It was supposed to be a revolution in gastronomy, but it turned out to be a flop. Elon Musk's restaurant is empty
After the initial boom, problems emerged: anti-Musk protests, noise complaints, and dissatisfaction with the quality of food.
As reported by “The Guardian”, the menu was quickly exhausted and the dishes served were cold and soggy. Chef Eric Greenspan's departure only deepened the crisis – he even deleted all mentions of working at Tesla Diner from his social media.
Greenspan told the Los Angeles Times: “I am leaving Tesla Diner to focus on opening Mish, a Jewish deli.” However, he did not provide detailed reasons for his resignation.
Did Elon Musk “forget” about his new catering concept?
In October 2025, Tesla announced on the “X” platform that it had sold 50,000 since its opening. burgers – an average of just over 700 per day. Musk then announced that the restaurant was a success and suggested he would open additional locations near Tesla's offices in Palo Alto and Austin. Tesla has not yet announced any formal expansion plans.
The interior of the Tesla Diner was compared to images from the cartoon “The Jetsons”
|
PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP/East News / East News
In the following months, interest in the restaurant among culinary influencers gradually decreased. As “The Guardian” explains, reviewers also refrained from commenting on, for example, $13 burgers, and “Star Trek” screenings on giant screens next to the restaurant attract only a handful of fans.
At the Tesla Diner, “Star Trek” shows were organized on giant screens
|
PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP/East News / East News
Elon Musk himself, who usually publishes dozens of posts a day on “X”, only occasionally mentioned the restaurant on this platform. As The Guardian notes, he didn't touch on this topic during Tesla's October third-quarter earnings conference call.
See also: Elon Musk: “Humanoid robots will be everywhere.” China can win this race
Currently, the restaurant focuses on smaller events and a shortened menu, which has improved the quality of service. Customers appreciate the lack of crowds and quick service, but it is unclear whether this will be enough to restore its former popularity.
