SMORGASBORD : Some More Sizzle : Grills are smoking close to home in Newbury Park, Thousand Oaks, Camarillo--and Ventura.

Since March’s column about the barbecue joints on north Ventura Avenue, people have been asking, “Do you really have to drive way out to the end of Ventura to get mouth-watering meats cooked over a smoking oak-pit fire?”

Of course not.

Thousand Oaks residents, drive by and smell the tri-tip. There are two spots in your territory to pick up convenient barbecued meats and meals.

Thousand Oaks Meat Locker has been in the same location for more than 30 years. The market’s old-West facade and hay bales look out of place on a street of stucco and high-tech mini-malls. However, the tasty grub cooked up in front of the beveled glass windows could never be outdated.

The T.O. Meat Locker serves up tri-tip, chicken, beef and pork ribs every day with homemade beans, salads and garlic bread or you can purchase items a la carte. One specialty worth trying is the dark meat chicken soaked in Uncle Bum’s Spicy marinade.

The old-fashioned meat market offers a variety of uncooked meats, their own beef and turkey jerky and custom butchering.

Across town is another longtime resident, Newbury Park Meat Market. After buying the business three years ago, Matt Beck began barbecuing in front of the aging shopping center to attract customers.

On his custom stainless-steel, portable barbecue, Beck sizzles up beef ribs, chicken and tri-tip every Saturday. The most popular item is the Sampler. It includes a beef rib, 1/4 chicken, small tri-tip sandwich and beans for $4.75.

Sam’s Deli & Meat Market in Camarillo has been serving up open-fire-cooked meats from their location for two years.

Known for their first-class deli and meat counter, it is no surprise that owner Jane Esparza’s crew barbecues some good grub.

Besides the typical tri-tip and chicken, Sam’s offers their homemade mild Italian sausage links on a stick. Inside, the deli presents a vast choice of freshly made salads and drinks.

In Ventura, Noren’s Market has their coals burning seven days a week. Leo Gutierrez and his crew roast up tri-tip, chicken, beef and baby back ribs, spraying them with soy sauce and lemon juice. Every day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. hamburgers are cooked up for students from Buena High School and Ventura College.

Noren’s also smokes meats with their custom, non-mobile barbecue unit. Special requests can be made for turkeys, Cornish game hens and fish. For large or special orders, they ask you call at least a day in advance.

All of the above businesses are also available for catering.

* WHERE AND WHEN

* Noren’s Market--5171 Telegraph Road, Ventura; 642-3551; 9 a.m. to to 7 p.m. daily.

* Thousand Oaks Meat Locker--2684 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. 495-3211.

* Newbury Park Meat Market--1700-J Newbury Park Road, Newbury Park; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. 498-6000.

* Sam’s Deli & Meat Market--699 Mobil Ave., Camarillo; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. 482-7381.