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WIRED
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- WIRED
A $17 Hotdog and a Humanoid Robot Serving Popcorn: WIRED's Day at the Tesla Diner
Jul 23, 2025 5:00 PM WIRED stopped by the new Tesla Diner in Hollywood to try a $17 hotdog, watch a humanoid serve popcorn, and talk to people who still stan Elon Musk. Renuka Veerasingam believes Elon Musk is humanity's last hope. 'I want to go to Mars, and he is going to take us,' she says. 'Space is the final frontier. It's in our DNA to find the final frontier—to keep going until we get to the edge.' Though Veerasingam is lightyears from Mars, she is currently on the edge of Santa Monica Boulevard and North Orange Drive, in the heart of Hollywood, for the opening of the new Tesla Diner, modeled in the likeness of the same kind of retro-futuristic space station she one day dreams of inhabiting on the red planet. An actress who lives in Toluca Lace, Veerasingam wanted to see Musk's latest window into the future up close. Every one of the 200-plus people assembled have their reason for coming, many seemingly curious to find out what the seemingly Midas touch of Musk has to offer on a Tuesday afternoon in July. Musk first announced his plans for the diner in 2018 on Twitter—before he bought the company and rebranded it as X—saying that he wanted to 'put an old school drive-in, roller skates & rock restaurant at one of the new Tesla Supercharger locations in LA.' So far this is the only location, but he has plans to expand to other cities if it's successful. PHOTOGRAPH: ETHAN NOAH ROY PHOTOGRAPH: ETHAN NOAH ROY That vision came to life at exactly 4:20 pm Monday, a cherished stoner reference of Musk's and one that probably peaked when he was still in college. WIRED's photographer, Ethan Noah Roy, was there when the doors opened, meeting a man who had dedicated the last 13 years of his life to work at Tesla with the sole purpose of meeting Musk. 'That has yet to happen,' he said. I arrive in the middle of the lunch rush, around 1 pm the following day, with some 80 other people waiting to get in. In the parking lot, there are 80 v4 Supercharger stalls— 'the largest urban Supercharger in the world,' according to Tesla—and two 45-foot movie screens that showed a selection of movies, TV clips, and Tesla ads. Episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation play as servers on rollerskates hand out free ice cream to people waiting in line. For now, parking only accommodates Teslas and other EVs. Customers with gas-powered cars were instructed by security to park on the street. After 30 minutes of light conversation—'He makes himself hard to like,' one young woman, who asks not to be identified, says of Musk—I make it inside. PHOTOGRAPH: ETHAN NOAH ROY Despite being advised to get the burger and apple pie, I opt for a hotdog, fries, a salad, and the creamsicle instead, totaling $40.61—and am directed to the pick-up counter, where even more people are waiting for their number to be called. The aesthetic inside the diner is 'very modern, very Jetsons,' says local Joseph Macken, referring to the 1962 cartoon about a family living in a futuristic utopia with flying cars and a robot maid. (Veerasingam loves the bathrooms 'because it's really like you are in a capsule,' on a spaceship, 'looking at earth looking down at you.') But much of it is very typical of an American diner: curved white booths and a long countertop that peers into the behind the countertop, chef Eric Greenspan woofs orders to staff, calling out numbers and making sure everything runs as smoothly as possible. If you've ever watched an episode of The Bear you know the clattering from the belly of the kitchen well. There's a brute choreography to everything happening—loud, constant, unblinking. Michael Jackson's 'Beat It' blares from the speakers. Everyone has their phones out recording, snapping photos, set on capturing a moment and finding meaning in it. Greenspan notices a look of irritation on a customer's face. 'I appreciate your patience. There are TV screens outside—or is this enough of a show for you?' he says. 'Enjoy it for the spectacle that it is. By next week it'll be a regular restaurant.' PHOTOGRAPH: ETHAN NOAH ROY PHOTOGRAPH: ETHAN NOAH ROY Greenspan is something of a local legend in LA, famed for his tenure at The Foundry on Melrose and, depending on what side of town you're on, is known for making the best grilled cheese in the city. He also helped open Mr. Beast Burger—yes, that Mr. Beast—where he put a unique spin on American comfort food. That's exactly what you'll find at the Tesla diner. The fare is red, white, and blue to the core, with a few twists: tuna melts, club sandwiches, biscuits and gravy, chicken tenders, all-day breakfast, Wagyu beef chili, and—of course, because it's a Greenspan operation after all—grilled cheese on Tartine buttermilk bread. Fusing the nostalgia of a McDonald's Happy Meal with the gloss of Tesla branding, food is served in Cybertruck boxes with Cybertruck-shaped wooden forks. Every part of the experience is a reminder of—and an opportunity to sell—the Tesla ethos. 'I think this might be the new spot,' says Xavier Hardy, a realtor and DJ, who orders the chicken and waffles, and raves about the black pepper mayo sauce it came with. 'I saw that the diner is 24 hours. I feel everyone is going to come here after events, clubs. All the celebs will probably be here. I'm surprised no other car companies have thought of this before. And the food isn't too expensive either.' I mention to Hardy that the hot dog—which has a rubbery texture and taste—costs $17 dollars. 'For some people, that's nothing though,' he says. Terence Sampson, a therapist from Long Beach, tagged along with Hardy for the day. 'I don't have a Tesla but I want a Cybertruck,' he says. 'They're super futuristic but also simple. They're sleek. Energy efficient. They are the iPhones of cars.' I ask what they think of Musk. 'I don't like him,' Sampson says. 'He's a great business man and innovative, but I work for the government, so when he was with Trump and all of that stuff—nah. I like this Elon, not the one that was sending emails to our job. Not him.' Sampson tells me he works for the Department of Veteran Affairs. In January, newly appointed to the Trump administration, Musk sent an email to federal employees asking them 'to resign by February 6 if they do not wish to return to the office five days a week and commit to a culture of excellence,' WIRED reported. The following month, another investigation by WIRED found that federal government workers were told to email the Office of Personnel Management with 'approx. 5 bullets of what you accomplished last week' or they would be terminated. LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 21: Aerial view of the Tesla Diner and Drive-In restaurant and Supercharger on July 21, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. The futuristic Tesla Diner and supercharger station boasting a drive-in experience for drivers opened in Hollywood this Monday. (Photo by I RYU/VCG via Getty Images) PHOTOGRAPH: GETTY IMAGES Many of the people I speak with agree that Musk's personal politics are questionable but that his business acumen as an innovator can not be questioned. Ralph N., a software engineer traveling through LA with his sons for a water polo tournament stopped at the diner to charge his Tesla before driving back to San Francisco. 'I was a fan of his until about two years ago, when he went crazy. I am kind of on the fence now.' He's owns the Model 3 since it first came out seven years ago, and later bought a second Tesla, the Model Y. 'I am a fan of the stuff that he makes. He used to be a cool engineer to follow, but he got political the last couple of years and alienated a bunch of people. I'm not super happy about that.' On the second floor is the 'Skypad,' a deck that wraps around the entire building. There's table seating, hillside views of Los Angeles, and a bar, where employees sell Tesla merch. A giddy crowd gathers around the popcorn machine, where a humanoid robot—eerily reminiscent of the ones in the movie I, Robot —waves to onlookers and serves popcorn. 'Elon definitely snapped,' Jamel Bullock says, conveying a compliment of high praise, a cultural colloquialism. A Silverlake-based design creative who works in fashion and tech, Bullock bought a Model 3 only a couple of months ago, but considers it 'the best car of all time .' Overall, he says the diner experience is what LA needs and will make for a great date spot. 'Now, if it stays this loud, it might suck for them,' he says, pointing to the apartment complex across the street, where people gawk at the spectacle from their balconies. 'Regardless of how you feel about it, though, it's just cool overall.' Umut, who came with a friend and asked that his last name not be printed for privacy concerns, heard about the opening on X Tuesday morning. He bought a Model Y a year ago and says he has endured some backlash for it since Musk's public favor has waned. 'I see a lot of people with those stickers saying I used to drive this before Elon went crazy. I'm not like that. I have my own opinion but I don't think it's right to do that. It does feel a little weird to be honest. My friends make jokes about it sometimes—'Oh, you're driving a Tesla.' It's a car at the end of the day. It serves me well.' PHOTOGRAPH: ETHAN NOAH ROY PHOTOGRAPH: ETHAN NOAH ROY What's to love about the Tesla diner? Outside of the offering of superchargers, there doesn't seem much replay value. Many people complain of long wait times—my own food takes 40 minutes to arrive—and though it's good, it isn't anything you can't get at other diners, like Mel's or Clark Street, across the city. The sun finally comes out as Veerasingam waits for her food on the deck. 'This is a MAGA diner. Why do I say that—literally you have a menu telling you how everything is made,' she says, and I don't know exactly what she means. 'I didn't even know cheese is not real. Did you see that?' On the menu, Greenspan has detailed many of the ingredients he uses, most of them sourced from local farmers and brands, including Brandt beef ('from the Holstein cows of Brandt Cattle of Calipatria, CA'), flour tortillas ('made with heritage organic drought resistant wheat'), Bakers Bacon ('heritage bred pork and natural apple wood smoke'), and a kind of cheese called New School American ('made from aged cheddar, real cream and real butter without phosphates, starches, acids or fillers'). PHOTOGRAPH: ETHAN NOAH ROY Since the late 80s, Veerasingam suggests, too many artificial preservatives have been added to food. 'It's all fake,' she says. Returning to her earlier point, about the limitations of being on earth, she says there's more out there. 'If you're exploring the unknown, it's not about what anybody else has. Nobody knows. It's a different kind of competition. It's not about money. Money cannot get you to Mars. It's beyond money' But won't you need money to get there, I ask 'Yes, but it's not going to be the be all and end all,' she says. 'Why do we need approval to go to Mars? Cut the shit, all the regulation shit. We don't want politics but politics has unfortunately come to us,' she says. 'Normal people, we just want to get on with our lives.' Before we depart, I ask her what she thinks is at the edge, what she hopes to find at the final frontier? 'Nothing,' she says. 'It's like a cycle. We will start at the beginning. It's like the snake that eats itself. And that's the meaning of life. But first we have to go.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Driver whose car plowed into crowd outside Hollywood club injuring 23 shot and attacked by bystanders
The driver suspected of ramming his vehicle into revelers outside an East Hollywood nightclub was beaten and then shot by bystanders, police said. Seven people are in critical condition after the driver of the Nissan Versa, who has not been identified, crashed into bystanders outside The Vermont Hollywood club at the corner of Vermont Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard at around 2 a.m. Saturday. In total, 23 people were taken to a local hospital for medical treatment, police said. LAPD Captain Ben Fernandes told the LA Times that the suspected driver was thrown out of the club earlier for being disruptive. After he drove into the crowd, bystanders pulled him from the vehicle and started assaulting him. He was then shot from across the street by a suspect who remains at large, according to police. Seven people are in critical condition after the driver of the Nissan Versa crashed into bystanders outside The Vermont Hollywood club at the corner of Vermont Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard at around 2 a.m. Saturday. (AXN News/Reuters) 'From review of the video, he went up to the sidewalk further down and when he hit bystanders it was an intentional act,' Fernandes told the outlet. 'He was pulled from the car, handcuffed by security and then beaten by bystanders before being shot in the back by an individual from across the street.' The driver's condition is not known. 'We are deeply saddened by the tragic incident that occurred early Saturday morning outside our venue,' Vermont Hollywood said in a statement. 'Our thoughts and heartfelt prayers are with the victims and their families during this difficult time.' In total, 23 people were taken to a local hospital for medical treatment, police said. (AP) The Los Angeles Fire Department said 124 fire personnel responded to the scene when the call came in. Revelers were leaving the club when the car mounted the sidewalk, with many standing in line for food from a nearby taco truck. Maria Medrano, who was working a food cart outside, recalled how she and her husband narrowly escaped after the car struck their stand, crushing it. 'The car stopped once it hit the hot dog stand, it got stuck there,' Medrano said from the hospital. 'If not, I wouldn't be here to tell (the story).' First responders at the scene after a car hit crowds near an East Hollywood nightclub (AXN NEWS/YouTube) Medrano said she heard what appeared to be gunshots after the crash. 'Everyone started running,' she said. Speaking from the scene, LA Fire Department Capt. Adam VanGerpen earlier claimed that the driver lost consciousness, but the department later said they could not confirm it despite initial reports. Footage from the scene showed dozens of emergency responders treating victims on the street. The Associated Press contributed reporting
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
At Least 20 Injured, 5 Critically, After Car Drives into Crowd in Los Angeles
At least 20 people have been injured after a vehicle drove into a crowd in Los Angeles. At around 2:00 a.m. local time on Saturday, July 19, a vehicle drove into a crowd on Santa Monica Boulevard in East Hollywood, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) stated in a news release. Initial reports suggest that over 20 people were injured, with at least four to five people in critical condition. Eight to 10 others were left in 'a serious condition,' and 10-15 in 'fair condition,' according to the LAFD.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Thirty hurt after car hits crowd near Los Angeles club
At least 30 people have been injured when a vehicle drove into a crowd outside a club on Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles, the city's fire department and local media reports say. At least seven people were in critical condition and six others were seriously injured, the fire department said in an online statement. Reuters was not immediately able to contact the city's police department. The incident occurred just before 2am, the fire department said. Captain Adam VanGerpen, a fire department spokesman, was quoted by US broadcaster ABC News as saying that a paramedic assessing one of the injured found a gunshot wound. He said he was unable to confirm reports that it was the driver of the car that hit the crowd. The car, he said, apparently first careened into a taco truck outside the venue and then ploughed through a valet stand and into a large group of people. He said that a line of people - the majority female - were waiting to enter a nightclub when they were struck by a Nissan Versa. Videos posted on X showed roads being sealed off and patients being taken away in ambulances. Authorities gave no immediate details on the cause of the incident or the identity of the driver.
The Independent
5 days ago
- The Independent
Three critically injured after vehicle crashes outside LA nightclub
A vehicle ploughed into a crowd outside an East Hollywood nightclub in Los Angeles, injuring approximately 31 people. The incident occurred around 2am local time on Santa Monica Boulevard, near Vermont Avenue. Three individuals are in a critical condition, six are seriously hurt, and 19 sustained minor injuries. The driver reportedly lost consciousness, causing the vehicle to hit a taco cart and then pedestrians who were queuing or getting food. The Los Angeles Fire Department deployed 124 personnel to the scene to manage patient triage and transport.
