Your Eyes Will Pop Like a Classic Cartoon When You Hear Tesla's Burger Prices

A New Venture for Elon Musk: Tesla Eats

When a company is struggling, its leadership often looks for unconventional ways to regain momentum. For Elon Musk, this has led to an unexpected move — opening a burger restaurant. Tesla Eats, a fast food joint, recently made its debut near a Supercharger lot in Los Angeles. This marks the first time the restaurant has opened since it was initially announced seven years ago. Located on a corner lot in Santa Monica, the restaurant features a sleek and modern design that some have compared to the waiting area of Disneyland’s Star Tours or Space Mountain.

The concept of Tesla Eats is simple: customers can charge their electric vehicles while enjoying a meal. The menu includes a "Tesla Burger," which comes with a side of "Electric Sauce" or "Epic Bacon." While the idea sounds appealing, the prices are anything but modest. Customers may find themselves paying up to $24.50 for a single burger, with additional items like the $4 "Wagyu beef chili" adding significantly to the base price of $13.50. A single cup of that chili will cost $8, while a side of fries is priced at $4.

The drinks are also expensive, with a "charged soda" ranging from $7 to $10 depending on the flavor. However, regular sodas are available for $4, with a souvenir cup available for an extra $3. Additionally, customers can purchase Tesla-themed merchandise, including hoodies that cost $95 and a pack of "supercharged" gummies priced at $35. The cost of an action figure modeled after Tesla's remote-controlled "Optimus" robot remains unclear.

While the idea of a high-end burger joint at a charging station is not new, the location in Los Angeles, home to popular chains like In-N-Out Burger, raises questions about the viability of such a venture. In-N-Out Burger offers burgers starting at $3.60, fries for $2.30, and a milkshake for $3.00. The question remains whether the food quality at Tesla Eats can compete with local competitors.

Early reviews of the restaurant have been mixed. Some customers reported long lines and chaotic scenes inside the restaurant. One poster on X-formerly-Twitter shared their experience, stating, "Tesla Diner is [a] really cool spot but we waited for two hours to eat something in there." They also criticized the customer service, noting that the staff was disorganized and lacked knowledge about the restaurant's operations.

Tech investor Noah Aron commented on the food quality, saying, "Shakes are excellent... hash browns were solid, burgers and sandwiches were pretty awful." He also noted that the staff was flustered and the kitchen was chaotic. Despite these criticisms, Eater praised the tuna melt and the biscuits and gravy served in a Cybertruck-themed box, calling it a "fairly excellent preparation of the Southern morning classic."

However, the dining experience was described as awkward due to the use of Cybertruck-shaped wooden utensils. These unique tools, while innovative, may not be practical for everyday use.

This new venture comes at a challenging time for Tesla. Musk's political antics with DOGE have had a negative impact on vehicle sales worldwide, leading to a decline in revenue. Additionally, the company's self-driving rideshare concept, RoboTaxi, has not performed well, making the desiccated burgers at Tesla Eats seem like one of the company's better offerings.

As Tesla continues to navigate these challenges, the success of Tesla Eats will be closely watched. Whether it can attract customers and provide a competitive alternative to other fast food options remains to be seen. For now, the high prices and mixed reviews suggest that the road to recovery for Tesla may be longer than expected.