In this paper, we provide the normal form for the Hopf bifurcation of a class of the reaction‐diffusion equation with memory‐based diffusion and nonlocal effect, where the delay is present in the differential term, similar to the chemotaxis model with time delay. The eigenvalue problems and the decomposition of the phase space are discussed in detail. Through a series of variable transformations, we obtain the third‐order truncated normal form of the model constrained on the central manifold and its equivalent equation in polar coordinates. Then, with the help of the dynamic analysis for the finite dimensional equations, the key parameters for determining the direction and stability of the Hopf bifurcation are given. These theoretical results are applied to the Bazykin's model, the stability, Turing bifurcation and Hopf bifurcation of the equilibrium are demonstrated through both theoretical and numerical methods.