Refried beans (frijoles refritos) are a Mexican dish of mashed bean that are often served as a side dish or as a filling for burritos, tacos, and enchiladas. Frijoles, on the other hand, just means "beans" in Spanish and can refer to any type of beans, including refried beans. So, while refried beans are a type of frijoles, not all frijoles are refried beans. Typically the word “frijoles” used by itself refers to “frijoles de la olla,” which is beans cooked simply in a pot.