Tesla Diner loses buzz six months after splashy opening in Hollywood

Six months after its splashy debut, the Tesla Diner slowdown is becoming visible in Hollywood.

When the futuristic rest stop opened last July, crowds of electric vehicle owners and curious visitors lined up outside the retro-styled complex on Santa Monica Boulevard. However, the early buzz has faded. Today, most customers appear to be EV drivers charging their cars rather than general visitors.

At about 5 p.m. on the 205th day since opening, the Tesla Diner near Santa Monica Boulevard and Orange Drive felt relatively quiet despite the evening rush. During one hour, roughly 30 to 40 electric vehicles used the Supercharger area, which can accommodate up to 80 cars simultaneously.

A staff member overseeing security at the Supercharger and diner said foot traffic has slowed compared with the opening weeks. “Many people visited at first, but it has tapered off,” the employee said. “Drivers tend to come after 11 p.m. when charging rates are lower. Many order food and eat inside their cars.”

Billed as the world’s first Tesla Diner, the facility combines a high-speed Supercharger station with a dining space designed to reflect America’s automotive past, present and future. The concept allows drivers to charge their vehicles while resting and dining.

The charging area featured not only Tesla models such as the Model 3, Model Y and Cybertruck, but also other brands. Hyundai Ioniq, Mercedes-Benz G-Class EQ, Hummer EV and GM Bolt vehicles were seen charging.

However, the indoor dining area appeared underused. The two-story space can seat close to 100 people, yet only about 10 were eating at the time. Although the diner introduced three ordering kiosks and expanded its food and dessert menu, customer numbers remained modest.

Sharon Kim, who visited last month with her two children, said she was surprised by the small crowd. “Even on a Friday afternoon, there weren’t many people,” she said. “We ordered three menu items and paid nearly $90.” She added that her children had hoped to see a moving Tesla Optimus robot but only viewed a display model behind glass.

Frequent protests outside the diner may also affect attendance. Kim said demonstrators waved signs opposing Elon Musk and shouted slogans, which detracted from the experience.

An employee said the Tesla Burger remains popular. The moving Optimus robot appears only during special events, which are listed on the diner’s website.

Initially, the diner attracted many general visitors. Now, customers are mostly EV owners. A Korean tourist in her 60s said she visited out of curiosity after hearing about the diner in Korean media. “The exterior is unique and interesting,” she said. “It’s worth seeing once.”

Some local EV drivers expressed satisfaction. Hollywood resident Isabel Lee, in her 20s, said she regularly uses the site. “At first, many people came just to experience the restaurant,” she said. “Now it’s mostly EV owners. I like being able to eat and rest while charging.”

According to Tesla, the diner operates daily from 6 a.m. to midnight. Tesla owners using the Supercharger can order food 24 hours a day and receive it inside their vehicles.

BY HYOUNGJAE KIM  [kim.ian@koreadaily.com]