I loved them. I was in 5th grade when they were discontinued in 1974. Looking forward to trying one and see if they taste like I remember.
Anyone else remember these ham & cheese sandwiches?
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-01/burger-king-brings-back-yumbo-ham-sandwich-after-40-year-hiatus.html
I don’t remember them being called that, but as soon as I saw the picture I remember the sandwich well, and loved them when I was a kid.
From what I remember they had very good ham in them. Some of the best I can remember in a fast food sandwich. I really hope they don’t change that.
After 40 years they can pretty much do what they want. It’ll be a new sandwich to most people.
I don’t recall them, but I would have been 4 when they were discontinued, going by the date in the article.
Is it just a ham and cheese sandwich with a cute name, or is there something else that makes them interesting?
I very much doubt that at $3.69 the ham will be anything other than low quality. And given the four decades, the only customers who could have been asking about this product are fiftysomethings or older. The customer base for most fast food places is young men, so this isn’t something they’re nostalgic about. Basically, it’s competing with a Subway six-inch Black Forest ham and cheese sandwich.
There weren’t any delis or specialty sandwich shops in my hometown in the early 70’s. Lunch meat from the grocery and wonder bread were our only deli option. 
That may be why I remembered Burger Kings ham sandwich. It was unique back then and a nice change from a burger.
IIRC we got a Subway in the late 70’s or early 80’s. Then we finally had a specialty sandwich option.
I’ll give Burger King a try. But these days I mostly go to Jasons Deli or Jimmy Johns for a deli sandwich.
That’s the problem; it’s a deli sandwich, and people have many choices for that. This isn’t the thing that’s going to fix what’s wrong with Burger King.
I never ate a Yumbo, but I remember the commercials from when they were introduced- the jingle was sung by a black girl with a fake Jamaican accent, who asked, “Have you tried a Yumbo yet?”
In fact, I think the early ads were tied in with a contest to give away free vacations to Jamaica to certain people who ordered Yumbos.
Yeah, it is basically just a Ham and Cheese sandwich on a toasted hoagie roll. But it was discontinued in 1974 which is the same year as Subway started franchising. In my neck of the woods (central Indiana) there really weren’t any sub shop options so it was a nice break from a fast food burger.
I was born in 1968 and we got a Burger King when I was in maybe fifth or sixth grade. We didn’t have a TV so I wouldn’t have seen commercials for the Yumbo. I’m not sure I’ll try it since I am deeply in love with BK’s chicken sandwiches.
I loved them but refused to order one by name.
“I’d like, uh, a ham and cheese.”
“You mean a YUMBO?!?”
“Uh, no, never mind…”
I used to make them when I was a BK employee a couple lifetimes ago, along with the Chicken Parmesan and other “Specialty Sandwiches.” I do recall they were pretty tasty, and a good alternative to a burger during meal break.
I remember the Yumbo. They were quite good. I’ll have to judge the new version without nostalgia goggles, though.
As an aside, my local BK had it misspelled on the sign as “Yubmo”.
Which is funny because the slogan sounds like it should be said by some guy from Minnesota with a fake Swedish accent.
What is it, exactly? When I googled it, a nostalgic article from a couple years ago showed a picture of a basic “hot ham and cheese”- you know, just a round bun, sliced ham, and a melted American “cheese.” Not unlike something that was served at every school cafeteria during my childhood and at places like Arby’s and Wendy’s.
The Bloomberg link makes it look like one of the weird long “chicken” BK sandwiches, but with ham and cheese in place of the patty thing. Is it hot? Is it cold? Both? Can’t say I’ve ever had a hot ham and cheese with lettuce and mayo. I think I might just stick to those sub-like things at Arby’s if I want some hot lunchmeat stuff.
The new 2-for-$5 menu? What a scam. Add fries and a drink and it’s almost $8 dollars. More if you upgrade. Hello? I can go to the local real sub shop and get twice the food for that.
I worked at a Burger King in 1978-79 (in Southern California if that makes a difference). The Yumbo I remember serving was as you describe, a hot ham and cheese sandwich on a burger bun. They were pre-made (before my evening shift - I was in high school), and when one was ordered, it was popped in the microwave (or microwave-like heating unit) and warmed up. No mayo, no lettuce, no fancy sesame seed roll.
Well, since it was discontinued in 1974 a full 4 years before you started there you weren’t making a “real” Yumbo. It was on a sub/hogie roll that was toasted. Yes mayo, yes lettuce. It sounds like you were making something to please the people who missed the real thing.
Again, it probably isn’t anything special now with all the sub shops around, but you have to remember the time and it was something special back then.
They’re from before my time, but the commericals make them look/sound less than appetizing. Hot ham, well, okay, that can be good, but hot DELI ham? Gross. If ham’s going to be served warm, it better be Honeybaked thickness or thicker.
I wish Jack in The Box would bring back their ham and turkey melts.