Right in the heart of glamorous Hollywood, a unique spot has opened: Elon Musk’s first restaurant, the Tesla Diner. This time, the tech billionaire’s vision isn’t about space, Mars, or AI, but surprisingly, retro American cuisine. So, what happens when sci-fi meets a cheesy burger? The Guardian went to check it out firsthand.
A Futuristic Food Adventure or Sparkling Chaos?
A new attraction has launched in the heart of Hollywood that’s retro, futuristic, and... surprisingly chaotic. Elon Musk, one of the world’s most famous tech billionaires, opened a restaurant – and it’s no ordinary spot. The Tesla Diner is a drive-in combined with electric charging stations, where guests can watch classic movies on a giant screen while theoretically enjoying top-tier burgers.
But according to The Guardian’s on-site report, the diner felt more like a botched sci-fi episode than a smoothly run eatery.
“Restaurants don’t usually make headlines on Earth,” Musk proudly declared during a company update.
And indeed, it’s rare for a new restaurant to cause such a stir. On opening day, Tesla Diner was more than just a place to eat. Its striking circular building, Cybertruck-inspired food boxes, and the humanoid robot Optimus serving popcorn on the rooftop terrace all hinted that this was not your average diner – it was the future.
Yet just days after opening, long lines, technical glitches, and cold food greeted guests.
Some Faced 2-3 Hour Waits
The Guardian journalist Lois Beckett reported that the Tesla Diner app, which was supposed to let guests order from their cars, stopped working by the third day. This meant the diner favored Tesla owners who came inside to order. Those without cars faced lines in the sun that could last two to three hours. One man dryly noted, “It just keeps getting better.”
Despite technical glitches limiting menu options like chicken, waffles, shakes, and the extra-caffeinated “sparkling” drink, guests stuck around. Enthusiasm stayed high at the merch stand, where $95 retro hoodies, $65 Tesla salt and pepper shakers, and $175 floating Cybertruck figurines found eager buyers.
The Menu: California Chaos in a Retro Box
The menu tries to appeal to both meat-loving influencers and health-conscious Californians. There’s the “Epic Bacon” – four strips of bacon with various sauces – alongside matcha lattes, avocado toast, or kale salad served in a cardboard Cybertruck.
Prices aren’t outrageous for Los Angeles – a burger costs $14 without fries.
The interior impresses with chrome surfaces, futuristic ‘50s-style chairs, and a wall full of robot displays. But the food didn’t win everyone over. The Guardian’s reporter got cold waffles and lukewarm chicken, with a strange dill dressing on the salad. Drinks came with bamboo straws – sustainable, but the taste didn’t quite hit the mark.
A Family Quest for the Tesla Burger
Several families came with young kids drawn by the Optimus robot seen on YouTube or the eye-catching packaging. One dad tried twice in two days to get in so his daughter could finally taste the Tesla burger – he succeeded the second time and, despite the cold food, said simply: “It’s good.”
Other visitors were less forgiving. A tourist from China hoped for “a truly high-tech experience” but found only a “simple restaurant” with long waits.
And Optimus? Maybe Tomorrow.
Many guests hoped to see the Optimus robot, who served popcorn on opening day’s rooftop. An employee gave a brief reply when asked: “The robot isn’t here today. Maybe tomorrow.”
Another guest asked if they could get popcorn without the robot present. The answer: “It’s probably old popcorn.”
The experience felt more like a flashy showcase than a true tech marvel. Meanwhile, Musk posted that next year Optimus will deliver food to cars – dressed in retro uniforms.
Innovation Over Illusion?
The Guardian’s reporter summed it up: Tesla Diner feels more like a theme park than a restaurant. The future Musk offers shines bright and futuristic on the surface but really feels like a polished vision stuck in the past – all sparkle, merchandise, and retro boxes, but not much working behind the scenes.
Worth a Visit?
If you find yourself in Hollywood with a few free hours, Tesla Diner is definitely an intriguing stop. But for now, it’s best seen as an interactive installation worth photographing rather than a place to eat. The experience is memorable – just maybe not in the way Elon Musk imagined.
