Elon Musk’s latest venture — a futuristic diner and Tesla charging station in Hollywood, CA — has drawn long lines, technical issues, and devoted fans since its surprise opening earlier this week.
The “retro-futuristic” project, which combines mid-century design with modern electric car culture, opened Monday afternoon to hundreds of people eager to sample burgers served in Cybertruck-shaped boxes and watch classic films on massive outdoor screens.
The chrome-clad circular building, complete with rooftop seating known as the Skypad, quickly became a destination for both Tesla owners and curious tourists.
The diner offers food service alongside charging stations, allowing drivers to watch films like Star Trek or The Twilight Zone while they wait.
Yet by Wednesday, less than 48 hours after its launch, the excitement had given way to long waits, glitches in Tesla’s ordering app, and complaints about cold food — though many fans remained undeterred.
The @Tesla diner pic.twitter.com/YrWDV11nrZ
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 24, 2025
Crowds, glitches and devoted fans
Lines stretched to nearly 100 people by midmorning Wednesday. Tesla Diner employees said delays were caused by problems with the Tesla app, which forced the diner to prioritize car-side orders over walk-up customers. Wait times for non-Tesla owners reached two to three hours.
Despite the frustration, many stayed in line. Families with children, drawn by viral videos of the opening, were especially eager to see the Optimus robot that served popcorn during the launch. But the robot was absent on subsequent days.
Retro design, mixed reviews on food
Inside, the décor evoked a theme park more than a traditional diner. Gleaming chrome finishes, curved white seating, and display cases of robots lined the space, as reported by The Guardian.
The rooftop Skypad offered panoramic views of Tesla’s charging below and a line of customers buying merchandise — $95 retro hoodies, $65 salt and pepper shakers, and $175 “levitating” Cybertruck figurines.
Food reviews were mixed. One visitor described cold waffles stamped with Tesla’s lightning bolt logo and fried chicken served with partially dressed kale salad.
Drinks included “charged sodas” — boba and maraschino cherry concoctions — though these were frequently unavailable. Prices ran high for fast food, with burgers costing $13.50 without fries, though still considered reasonable for Los Angeles, as reported by The Guardian.
Musk calls diner a “beacon of hope”
During Tesla’s earnings call on Wednesday, where the company reported declining revenue and profits, Musk touted the diner as a success.
“Diners don’t typically get headline news around Earth,” he said, calling the Hollywood site “a shiny beacon of hope in an otherwise sort-of bleak urban landscape.”
The launch follows Musk’s pattern of high-profile side projects that often debut amid chaos but maintain loyal followings. For fans, the diner’s mix of futuristic style and nostalgic flair, despite its flaws, remains part of the appeal, according to The Guardian.
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