Mrs Yam owns View Street's Malayan Orchid, which she runs with husband Bob.

The restaurant recently won the Victoria Regional Asian Restaurant award at the Savour Australia Restaurant & Catering HostPlus Awards for Excellence, for the third year running. 

Mrs Yam said she was thrilled by the award, which will result in the restaurant being entered into the national competition. 

"They judged us on service, cleanliness and our cuisine," she said. "We don't just slap food on the plate."

She said the restaurant had undergone significant changes since it first opened its doors.

"When we first opened 21 years ago we started as a typical Chinese restaurant," she said. "As diners came in they requested more authentic dishes and unique ingredients."

These days, the menu includes Asian fusion items with ingredients as diverse as emu, kangaroo, venison and camel - not that diners are restricted by the menu.

"People who live in the area know that they can ring ahead and request special items," Mrs Yam said.

"We organise non-menu dishes according to the flavours that are available."

Mrs Yam said the teamwork of her staff greatly contributed to the award.

"Our service staff and chefs are excellent," she said. "We get them when they're quite young and train them.

"We like to keep them for a long time - you polish them up as they progress."

She said her and Bob's working relationship had also evolved over time.

"We each have our own domains (Bob managing the kitchen and Mrs Yam managing the floor) and together we're a very strong team," she said.

The winners of the national awards will be announced in September.