This paper investigates a class of tritrophic food chain models with threshold switching between Holling type I and a generalized Holling functional response. First, we present the boundedness properties of the class of food chain models and provide the upper bounds of positive equilibria of the models. Then, using symbolic method of real solution classification, we can determine the maximum numbers of positive equilibria and characterize the parameter regions where they arise. Local stability is analyzed via the Li'enard--Chipart criterion, showing that positive equilibria of the food chain models are always unstable when x≥ B, and can be stable when x＜ B, where B denotes the critical prey density at which the predator attains its maximum feeding rate. Moreover, we perform the Hopf bifurcation analysis of the models and determine the nature of the Hopf bifurcations by computing the first Lyapunov coefficient. Finally, numerical simulations are provided to verify our theoretical results.