We Ordered EVERYTHING at the Tesla Diner: Honest Food Review with a Twist
Hey everyone, DennisCW here! If you've been following my channel, you know I'm all about exploring the latest in Tesla tech, EVs, and now... food? That's right, today I'm diving into the futuristic world of the Tesla Diner in Los Angeles. I brought along my friend Selene (check her out on Instagram @selenelenare), a seasoned food reviewer, to help me tackle every single item on the menu. We ordered it all, charged up, and got the full experience. Spoiler: It's equal parts innovative and... interesting. Let's break it down!
Arriving at the Tesla Diner: The Setup and Ordering Process
The Tesla Diner isn't your average spot—it's integrated with an 80-stall Supercharger station, complete with a drive-in movie theater vibe. We rolled up around lunchtime, and even though it showed as full on the app, we snagged a spot easily. Pro tip: You have to be plugged in to order via the Tesla app, which prevents non-chargers from clogging the system.
We tried pre-ordering on the way (about 30 minutes out), but high demand meant we could only add items once parked and charging. The menu isn't huge—think burgers, sandwiches, chili, fries, and drinks—but we went all-in. Total cost for everything? Around $160. Not bad for a feast, right? We placed the order at 12:10 PM, and it arrived in about 20 minutes, delivered right to our car. Efficiency on point!
Bonus hack: Order for in-car delivery, grab your food, and you can skip the line to head inside. We got the green light to go upstairs for that rooftop dining experience.
The Food Breakdown: What We Thought of Every Item
Selene and I tasted it all, from breakfast items to lunch staples. Here's our honest take—keep in mind, some items arrived a bit cold or soggy due to delivery and our quick loops around the diner to find a spot.
Breakfast Items
- Greek Yogurt with Fruit and Granola: Nice compostable packaging, but it was watery and the granola was soggy like old cereal. Ingredients (strawberries, goji berries, honey) sounded great, but it felt like it'd been sitting. Rating: Meh, 5/10.
- Breakfast Tacos (Avocado, Egg, Potatoes): Flour tortillas were a win, but inconsistent—one had avocado, the other had random lettuce. Flavors were neutral; needed more zest or spice. Solid but basic. Rating: 6/10.
- Breakfast Chicken and Waffles: The chicken tender was juicy and tasty, but the waffle was a letdown—soggy and unnecessary. No syrup included, which was odd. We'd just order the tenders alone. Rating: 6/10 (chicken good, waffle no).
Lunch Favorites (and Not-So-Favorites)
- Smash Burger: The star of the show! Double patty, saucy, crispy edges, and soft bread. Comparable to Shake Shack—solid smash style. Best thing here, especially if you're charging anyway. Rating: 8/10.
- Fried Chicken Sandwich: Wait, plot twist—it came on a waffle instead of a bun (even for lunch). The spicy version had a nice kick, but again, waffle dragged it down. Tender was great; skip the carbs. Rating: 7/10.
- Tuna Melt and Grilled Cheese: Basically the same base—crispy bread, but the cheese felt processed and thick. Tuna version added pickles for a basic upgrade. Home-cookable, nothing special. Rating: 5/10.
- Hot Dog with Chili: Major miss. The hot dog was shriveled like beef jerky, and the chili was watery, processed, and lacked meaty bits. Consistency like beef chili yogurt (yikes). Worst item. Rating: 2/10.
- Fries: Half-filled container, not crispy, and just not "it." We love fries, but these disappointed. Rating: 4/10.
We also grabbed kombuchas (unique cups!) and sauces like Electric Sauce—fun to try, but nothing revolutionary.
Best and Worst Dishes: Our Verdict
Best: Hands down, the Smash Burger. Selene and I agreed—it's saucy, well-smashed, and worth grabbing if you're here. The chicken tenders were a close second (ditch the waffle).
Worst: The chili hot dog was a disaster—dry, watery, and forgettable. Grilled cheese, breakfast tacos, and yogurt were skippable too. Everything else? Mediocre at best.
Our friend Mark joined for leftovers and surprisingly loved the chili (said it was thick and unique—go figure!).
Overall Impressions: Vibe, Concept, and Is It Worth It?
The Tesla Diner nails the futuristic aesthetic—think Tomorrowland at Disneyland with robots, merch (like mini Cybertrucks), and even bathroom details. The building uses Cybertruck-like materials, and you can see the Hollywood sign from the rooftop. It's unique, especially with in-car movie watching while charging.
But the food? It's not healthy (burgers and fried chicken, duh), and execution needs work—order mix-ups, sogginess, and policies still evolving. Politically charged spot aside, it's innovative but feels like a work in progress.
Would we return? If charging and craving a quick burger, sure—especially with free charging for Cybertruck owners like me. Otherwise, support local diners like Norms. Selene's take: Come for the theatrics, skip most of the food. My final thought: The lingering greasy aftertaste wasn't great, and it's no replacement for real LA eats.
What do you think? Have you tried the Tesla Diner? Drop your thoughts in the comments, and don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit that bell for more Tesla adventures!
-DennisCW
