Tesla Diner Opens in LA With 80 EV Chargers, Food, & Robots

Located along Hollywood’s stretch of Route 66, the two-story structure operates 24/7 and serves Tesla owners and walk-in customers.

The concept builds on an idea first floated by Elon Musk in 2018: a “retro-futuristic” drive-in diner located at a Supercharger station. 

After years of anticipation, the result includes 80 charging stalls, indoor and outdoor seating, a full menu of diner classics, and two massive outdoor screens playing movies and television shows.

Visitors can place orders inside the building or directly from their Tesla vehicles while charging. 

Meals are served in cardboard Cybertruck containers, and Optimus, Tesla’s humanoid robot, distributes popcorn. It is part drive-in, fast food restaurant, and branded experience.

The menu offers familiar items like burgers, fries, grilled cheese, milkshakes, and more upscale options such as wagyu chili, breakfast tacos, and tuna toast. 

Presentation and branding significantly influence the overall experience, with Tesla-themed names and packaging featured. Initial feedback from diners has been mixed but generally positive.

Many describe the food as satisfying and in line with the pricing, while others have noted long wait times and portions that feel modest given the cost.

Among the most discussed features of the Diner is its compensation model. Tesla has removed tipping entirely, instead choosing to distribute a portion of revenue directly to staff. 

This simplifies the customer payment process and eliminates a point of friction that has become increasingly debated in service industries. 

It offers consistent wages for employees and shifts financial responsibility away from patrons. While some industry observers have praised the move, others question whether it is scalable across multiple locations or sustainable in the long term.

As for the atmosphere, Tesla has created a visually striking and deliberately theatrical space. The Diner's distinctive identity is the steel-clad architecture, LED lighting, and retro styling. 

Inside, everything from the equipment to the restrooms is electric, reinforcing the company’s technology-forward image. The venue also sells branded merchandise, adding another layer to its consumer-facing strategy.

Despite the initial excitement, there are valid criticisms. Wait times during opening week were significant, and some customers felt the experience leaned more heavily on branding than food quality or service efficiency. 

There is also the question of long-term demand. While the novelty of a Tesla-themed diner has proven strong in its first few weeks, it remains to be seen whether the location can maintain high foot traffic over time, particularly among non-Tesla drivers.

Still, the Diner offers a glimpse into how Tesla may be thinking about the future of their physical infrastructure. Instead of viewing charging stations as purely functional, the company is experimenting with ways to make them into destinations. 

By offering food, entertainment, and a unique environment, Tesla encourages drivers to spend more time on site while reinforcing its brand.

Whether this model expands to other cities or remains a one-off concept in Los Angeles, the Diner represents an unusual fusion of mobility, hospitality, and technology. 

For now, it is one of the few places where charging a car also comes with a milkshake, a movie, and the possibility of being served by a robot.